148 
Stone Axes. 
A 46. 
Nos. I to 16''^ are grooved stone axes, all found in Ohio. 
These axes appear to belong to two classes. The first, a mere 
boulder, or at most an artificially-rounded stone, with a groove 
worked at the sides, or around it near the middle. The other 
grooved axes are more carefully finished ; one side is worked 
to a flat surface, probably that it might rest upon a corresponding 
flat piece of the handle ; the groove is not carried round this 
flat side. These two classes of axes merge into each other. 
The flat side is well shown in No. 12. The hammer-end of 
many of the grooved axes shows wear. See Nos. 7, 9, and 15. 
In many of the specimens the groove is bounded by a ridge on 
each side of it ; probably these ridges served to prevent the 
withe used in hafting from slipping. See Nos. 2, 3, 6, 9, 14. 
Some of the stone axes are of small size, such as Nos. 10, 
II, 12. 
We are told that grooved stone axes were sometimes employed 
as weapons in North America. The Indians use a war club, 
made by bending a withe around a hard stone, of about two 
pounds weight, which has been previously prepared with a 
groove in which the withe fits, and is thereby prevented from 
slipping off. The handle is about fourteen inches in length, 
and the axe is bound to it with buffalo-hide." Stone axes 
were also used for felling trees and general purposes. We learn 
from Adair that the Southern tribes twisted two or three 
hickory slips, about two feet in length, around the grooved 
part of the axe, and by means of this simple and obvious 
invention they killed trees, by cutting through the bark, and 
felled them by fire when they became thoroughly dry." 
Schoolcraft says : — " Fire was the great agent employed in 
felling trees. The Indians made a fire around the doomed tree ; 
when the fire had charred the outer surface, the burnt part was 
removed by the women and children, who used for the purpose 
a stone maul, Agakwut. This maul had a supple withe twisted 
around it, at the grooved part. The withe served as a handle. 
The axe-head was not mounted at right angles to the handle, as 
only an indrawing blow was struck. Some of these axes may 
* The following axes are of greenstone : — Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, il, 
12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Nos, I and 8 are of felstone. 
