Anchor stones, The native tribes n. of 
Mexico used bark and skin boats, dug- 
outs, and, in the extreme S. W. and on the 
California coast, balsas; and in the use 
of these frail craft for purposes of travel, 
transportation, fishing, hunting, and war- 
fare, the necessity for some means of 
anchorage was felt. In shallow waters 
with soft bottoms poles were often used; 
but of most general availability were 
stones that could be secured with a line 
and dropped from the vessel at any point. 
Commonly the stones thus used were 
simply bowlders or 
fragments of rock of 
proper, weight, but 
in some cases the 
form was modified 
to facilitate attach- 
ment of the cord. 
A simple encir- 
cling groove, mere 
notches in the mar- 
gins, or a rude per- 
f or at ion, sufficed 
for the purpose; the 
former treatment gave to the utensil the 
appearance of a grooved hammer. In- 
deed, it probably often happened that 
these anchor stones were used as hammers 
or as mauls or sledges for heavy work when 
occasion required. It is observed also 
that some specimens have served as mor- 
tars or anvil stones, and no doubt also for 
grindingand shapingimplementsof stone. 
Stones of all available varieties were used, 
and the weight, so far as observed, rarely 
exceeds 40 or 50 pounds. The grooves 
or marginal notches were usually rudely 
pecked or chipped; but some show care- 
ful treatment, and in a number of cases a 
part or the whole of the surface of the 
stone has been worked 
down, probably for safety 
and convenience in han- 
dling, and in some cases 
as a result of the habit of 
reducing articles in com- anchor stone in use 
moil use to symmetrical by chippewa (hh 
and somewhat artistic IN ' LONG 
shapes. Snyder records one case of the 
discovery of an anchor stone in an Indian 
grave. These stones are still used by In- 
dians as well as by white people. Consult 
Snyder in Smithson. Rep. 1887, 1889; Ran 
in Smithson. Cont. , xxv, 1884. (w. h. h. ) 
