Cones. Small prehistoric objects of 
polished stone, the use of which is unde- 
termined, and they are therefore classed 
with problematical objects (q. v. ). They 
are usually made of hematite or other 
hard material, and occur most plentifully 
in the states e. of the Mississippi. The 
base often varies somewhat from a circle, 
and the apex is sometimes quite low. 
Occasionally the specimens are truncated 
or abruptly sloped above or grade into 
hemispheres (q. v. ), and there are 
doubly conical and egg forms which grade- 
into the typical plummets (q. v.), the 
top in cases being truncated or slightly 
hollowed out, as if to accommodate some 
kind of fastening. Some of the cones 
approximate in form the more conical 
boat-stones (q. v. ). It is surmised that 
they were carried as charms or served as a 
part of the “medicine” kit of the shaman. 
It is possible, however, that they were 
employed in playing some 
game. It is observed that 
kindred objects of hematite 
of more or less irregular 
shape show facets, such as 
would result from rubbing 
them down for the red color 
which they somewhat readily yield. Sim- 
ilar conical objects of hematite are used 
by the Pueblos of to-day and were used by 
the ancient tribes in making sacred paint; 
a tablet of sandstone or shale served as 
the grinding plate, and the cone, which 
was the muller, also yielded the paint. 
See Hemispheres. 
Cones are described and illustrated 
among others by Fowke (1) in 13th Eep. 
B. A. E., 1896, (2) Archseol. Hist. Ohio, 
1902; Jones, Antiq. So. Inds., 1873; 
Moorehead, Prehist. Impls., 1900; Eau in 
Smithson. Cont., xxir, 6, 1872. 
(W. H. H. G. E.) 
Cone of Hematite; 
Kentucky. (1-3) 
