88 
Problematical objects made of antler are seen in Plate XIV, figure 23, 
and Plate XVII, figures 8, 13, and 22 to 27. _ The specimen in Plate XIV, 
figure 23, has one side of the beam, which is at an oblique angle to the 
sharpened tine, more or less flattened by grinding, possibly so that it could 
be lashed to a handle or some other object. One ena oi the rounded side 
has been cut down at a slant and the tip of the tine is artificially sharpened. 
The object had been used long enough to give the pointed end a polish. The 
specimen m Plate XV II, figure 13, seems to have been cut from a tine and 
may be in process of manufacture into a slotted point similar to that in 
Plate I, figure 16, although, probably, it would have been much thicker 
when finished. The fragmentary object seen in Plate XVII, figure 8, is one 
of the best finished antler artifacts found here. The front is slightly convex 
from end to end and from side to side and the lower face is flat; nearly all 
the unbroken edges are finished off square. The holes are all oblong with 
square edges, and the inner angle of the two lower holes, on the side illus- 
trated, is slightly worn, which suggests that the object was fastened to some 
other object by a cord that passed through one hole from the back and 
across the front to the other hole. The edges of the hole near the squared 
end are not worn. The writer knows of no similar artifact from Iroquoian 
sites elsewhere in Ontario and in New York. The function of the two antler 
implements in Plate XVII, figures 6 and 26, can only be surmised. The 
holes in both specimens were gouged out rather than drilled, but do not show 
signs of wear. Figures 25 and 27, in the same plate, show two other unique 
antler objects, both probably used for the same purpose, whatever this may 
have been. The one in figure 25 has one side of the larger end roughly 
worked down at a slant, and a wide, deep groove has been made in line with 
the holes. The specimen in figure 27 differs from the other in having a 
sharply pointed tine nearly at right angles to the larger portion. There is 
a small hollow in the larger end of this specimen which may be the result 
of decay of the soft, spongy interior of the antler. The sides bear longi- 
tudinal striae left by the scraper that was used in working it into shape. 
The tips of both specimens are polished, but the holes do not show signs of 
wearing. Thirteen objects made from the heavy beam of deer antlers, of 
which two are seen in Plate XVII, figures 22 and 23, were discovered, twelve 
by us and one by Mr. White. One (figure 23) has a sharp, conoid point, 
instead of a rounded, broad point, one is grooved (Cat. No. VIII-F-9945) , 
and another (figure 22) is perforated. What seems to be the working end 
on nine specimens has been cut down at a slant to the right, and on one at 
a slant to the left; the cross-section of this end on some specimens being 
either half round or curvilinear-triangular. The upper ends of all of them 
are also cut down at a slant, the bevel being in line with the concave side 
of the antler, but in all except one example in a contrary direction to the 
slant of the working end; probably the purpose was to facilitate fastening 
the object at an angle to some sort of handle, perhaps to a seat provided 
for it. The groove on one specimen and the hole in another were probably 
intended to make the fastening additionally secure. The upper ends are 
either left in a broken condition, slightly rounded, or squared off; all the 
lower ends are polished. One edge of the hole in the one seen in figure 22 
shows wearing from the chafing of the lashing which bound it to the handle. 
Some of these objects seem to be unfinished, although some of those that 
