332 Traces of an American Autochthon. [June, 
of jasper, quartz, or other minerals used by the Indians. The 
most marked of these forms is that here figured, which I call, 
adopting the local name, a “‘turtle-back.” The name quite ac- 
curately describes this peculiar form of stone implement. It is 
only necessary to say that they are flat upon the under side, 
usually presenting but one surface ; and where two or three, the 
lines of separation are scarcely definable, and the specimen, when 
placed upon a level surface, appears to be perfectly smooth under- 
neath. They vary but little in size, the one here figured (Fig- 
ure 21) being an excellent example of an average specimen of 
this form of stone implement. 
Considering this turtle-back as the primitive form of these 
paleolithic implements, we find that they vary from it, in three 
directions: towards the common grooved ax, but never with a 
groove; into spear-heads and large arrow-points; and into scrap- 
ers, such as the Indians later used. But while we meet with 
palolithic axes, spears, and scrapers which are quite similar to 
the neolithic forms, they can never be confounded with them; 
the workmanship is quite distinct, and, however unusual its 
shape, there is that about it that marks it as not an ordinary 
Indian relic. 
It is well here to refer to the fact that the occurrence of rude 
implements such as are here described takes place not only in this 
neighborhood, but Mr. C. C. Jones, in his work on Indian antiq- 
uities,’ alludes to “some rudely-chipped, triangular-shaped im- 
plements found in Nacoochee Valley under circumstances which 
seemingly assign to them a very remote antiquity. In material, 
manner of construction, and general appearance, so nearly do 
they resemble some of the rough so-called flint hatchets belong- 
ing to the drift type, as described by M. Boucher de Perthes, 
that they might very readily be mistaken the one for the other. 
- ++. At a depth of nine feet below the surface, intermm- 
gled with the gravel and bowlders of the drift and just above the 
rocky substratum upon which the deposit rested, were found 
three flint implements. ... . That the implements in ques 
tion were brought down with and deposited in the drift when as 
yet there was little or no vegetable life in the valley, seems 
highly probable. How many centuries have looked down upon 
the gradual accumulation of the soil which now overlies the drift, 
none can answer; but of one thing we may rest satisfied, that 
these specimens of the rude labor of prehistoric man may well 
1 Antiquities of Southern Indians, page 294. 
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