ixDi.ws or M.\.\i/.\rr.\.\ isl.wd 33 



Stone Morfdi's. Tlu^sc arc coininoii, hiil ratlici- local, some sites 

 liaviii«2; none at all, and others a <!;()0(1 inan>-. One locality on Staten 

 Island is notabU^ for the nunihers found there, wheicas they are rare 

 (^ls(nvluM(> in that \icinit\'. They may he (li\id(Ml into the h)llo\vin«i,- types: 



1. Portable^ mortar, hole on one side. 



2. Portahk* mortar, hok* on both si(l(>s (N(>w .Iers(\v type). 



3. Portable slab mortar or metato, used on one or both sides. 



4. l^oulder mortar, one or more holes, immovable. 



The first two types are the most abundant, the third is not uncommon, 

 but the fourth is very rai'e, only one or two bein^- reiM)ited. As above 

 stated. De Vries claims that the p()rta])le moi'tars were used in ])read- 

 makinjj; while the Indians were traveUng, })ut certainly the majority of 

 those found are far too heavy for this purpose. 



Pigments and Paint Cups. Fragments of pigments such as graphite 

 and limonite, showing the marks of scratching with scrapers, are found, 

 which have apparently supplied the material for painting. Worked 

 geodes are common on man}^ sites. These show traces of chipping in some 

 instances and may have been paint cups. There is a tiny pestle-shaped 

 pebble in the Museum collection from Westchester County, which is said 

 to have been found with a geode of this type. The popular theory is that 

 such geodes were used as "paint cups" and this seems probable. 



Stone Plummets. These are very rare, in contrast to their abun- 

 dance in the New England region. They consist usually of small worked 

 egg-shaped stones, grooved at one end, probably for suspension. The 

 writer has seen but one from this area. Their use is problematic. 



Semilunar Knives. Knives of rubbed slate, similar in appearance 

 to the ulu, or woman's knife of the Eskimo, are found, though rarely, in 

 this region. While sometimes ascribed to Eskimo influence or contact, 

 it is possible that this form (which occurs throughout New England), 

 judging b}^ its distribution, may have been native to the Eastern Algon- 

 kin also. The Eastern Cree still use knives of this type as scrapers. 

 Like most other forms common in New England, it is less abundant in the 

 southern part of this area. 



Stone Beads. Various pebbles generally perforated naturally are to 

 be found on some sites, and may or may not have been used as beads or 

 pendants. On Staten Island, at Watchogue, Mr. Isaiah Merrill once 

 ow^ned a number of square beads of pinkish steatite (?), all but one of 

 which have been lost, and which he claims were found on his farm. 



