Baking stones. A name applied to a 
numerous class of prehistoric stone relics 
found principally on 
inhabited sites in s. 
California. They 
are flattish, often 
rudely rectangular 
or somewhat oval 
plates, sometimes 
convex beneath and 
slightly concave 
above, and rare spec- 
imens have obscure 
rims. Usually they 
are made of soapstone, and often show 
traces of use over fire. They rarely ex- 
ceed a foot in length, are somewhat less 
in width, and perhaps an inch in average 
thickness. The characteristic feature of 
these plates is a roughly made perforation 
at the middle of one end, giving the ap- 
pearance of a huge pendant ornament. 
This perforation served, no doubt, to aid 
in handling the plate while hot. Some 
of these objects may have been boiling 
stones to be heated in the fire and sus- 
pended in a pot or basket of water for 
cooking purposes. This utensil passes 
imperceptibly into certain laclle-like 
forms, and these again into dippers, cups, 
bowls, and globular ollas in turn, the 
whole group forming part of the culinary 
outfit. A remarkable ladle-like object of 
gray diorite was obtained from the aurif- 
erous gravels 16 feet below the surface in 
Placer co. , Cal. It is superior in make to 
other kindred obj ects. The baking stones 
of the Pueblo Indians, employed in mak- 
ing the wafer bread, are smooth, oblong 
slabs set over the fireplace. See Abbott 
in Surveys West of the 100th Merid., vii, 
HOPI BAKING STONE. (mINDELEFf) 
1879; Cushing, Zufii Breadstuff, in Mill- 
stone, ISlov. 1884; Holmes in Smithson. 
Rep. 1899, 1901; Mindeleff in 8th Rep. 
B. A. E., 1891. (w. h. h.) 
Prehistoric Baking Plate,* 
California (i-io) 
