BLAKE — STONE CELTS FROM C1IIRIQUI. 



45 



condition, or probable age of these "celts." I understand, however, 

 that they were obtained from the same graves in Chiriqui whence 

 have been derived the various objects wrought in gold and moulded 

 in pottery, some of which have been lately described in the United 

 States, and in this country by Mr. Bollaert 



All the celts exhibited the well-known scalpriform sharpening of 

 the larger end, and are sharpened laterally by a succession of blows, 

 producing facets, analogous to 

 those of the chipped flints which 

 have been found at Abbeville,* at 

 the Kjokkenmoddings in Den- 

 mark! aDa " in various European 

 localities, and which probably be- 

 long to a period antecedent to the 

 known historical era. 



Four of the celts, marked B 2, 

 B 3, D 1, and D 2, are composed 

 of the porphyritic stone found in 

 great abundance on the Isthmus 

 of Darien. One only, marked B 1, 

 is hewn more roughly than the 

 others from an indurated clay, 

 and closely resembles some of 

 the European worked flints. 



B 1 (measuring 4 t 4 q- inches) is 

 of a tapering acuminate form, the 

 lateral facets being so deep, and 

 so widely extending across the 

 celt, as to have produced a more 

 or less salient ridge, extending 

 longitudinally along the median 

 line of the celt. The larger end 

 is polished on either side for a 

 small extent up the hatchet. The 

 stone, however, by its porous na- 

 ture, has not been susceptible of 

 much polish. The smaller end is 

 prolonged to an acute point. 



D 2 (measuring 3 t 3 q inches). 

 The sculptor's art has in this celt 

 progressed to such an extent as 

 to produce a polished surface, 

 obliterating the facets, and ex- 

 tending over the whole stone, 

 with the exception of the acuminated but unsharpened smaller ex- 

 tremity. 



In the three following "celts" the longitudinal diameter is much 

 less than in the two above mentioned. 



* Prestwich, Phil. Trans., 18(50. Evans, 'Archceolo 

 t Natural Hist. Review, Oct. 1861. 



I860, 1862. 



