No. 27. — 1884.] tissamararama archeology. 39 



situ. On the following day, it struck me as strange that 

 this plate should be 6 upside down/ and I therefore returned 

 to the spot, and, on examining the soil immediately under 

 it, found the jumper lying just as it had been deposited 

 2,000 years ago. Of course it has long been known that 

 in boring the cylindrical wedge-holes commonly preferred 

 by the ancient Simhalese for splitting building stones, a 

 small jumper-— a strong cylindrical chisel with a broad edge — 

 was employed ; and it is interesting to see one of the tools 

 which has actually been used for the purpose. The wedge- 

 holes were of two types, cylindrical ones from inch to 

 1£ inch in diameter, and from 2 to 3 inches deep, generally 

 bored from 4J to 6 inches apart, and rectangular ones, 

 having a section of 2 inches by \\ inch, and also from 

 2 to 3 inches deep, and, as a rule, the same distance apart 

 as the others. For cutting the latter, the ordinary cylin- 

 drical chisels or pointed 4 punches' employed in stone-cutting 

 were needed. Two of these have also been discovered. 

 Some of the carpenters' chisels were found at a higher level 

 than the most ancient remains, and are doubtless of more 

 recent date ; but as they are of exactly similar shape to 

 the rest, I include them with the others in this report. 

 The tools found are as follows : — 



1. The jumper above referred to, 5 inches long, made 

 Masons' and °^ three-quarter inch iron or steel, with an 



Stone-cutters' edge 1*3 inch long. The head is splayed out 

 tools. ky muc h hammering. (See illustration at 



end.) 



2. The heads and points of two stone-cutting chisels, 

 exactly like those now made, apparently composed of • 7-inch 

 iron. Their heads are hammered down by use, and they 

 have points of the ordinary shape. (See illustration.) 



3. Part of an iron wedge, with a side somewhat rounded. 

 This was made of 5 or 6 thin plates of iron welded together, 

 and was about 2 inches broad. 



4. An article which may possibly be a small broken 

 trowel of iron or steel. The edges of the blade were slight- 

 ly curved upwards, after the style of a common gardener's 

 trowel, but in a much less degree. The spike or pin which 

 fitted into the wooden handle is rivetted through the blade. 

 I must say, however, that 1 feel very much doubt as to this 



