A. Unworked, except notches; probably sinkers.
| District. | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Tennessee | 1 | 5 | ||
| Montgomery county, North Carolina | 1 | |||
| Northeastern Alabama | 5 | |||
| Kanawha valley, West Virginia | 3 | |||
| KEY: A = Sandstone. B = Argillite. C = Quartzite. D = Limestone. | ||||
B. Partly ground sharp edges, mostly with polished notches, sometimes with faces polished from one notch to the other ([figure 46], of argillite, from Cocke county, Tennessee). In addition there are 11 examples of argillite, besides one of mica-schist from eastern Tennessee and another of sandstone from Savannah, Georgia.
Fig. 44.—Grooved adze.
Fig. 45.—Grooved adze, showing curved blade.
C. Roughly chipped, with notches often at the middle but sometimes nearer one end. Probably most of these were sinkers; but as above stated the edges show marks of use, apparently in scraping, digging, or striking. Of these the following examples are in the Bureau collection: From several localities in eastern Tennessee, 40 of argillite; from Montgomery county, North Carolina, 24 of argillite and quartzite; from Kanawha valley, West Virginia, and from Savannah, Georgia, a few specimens of the same materials.
Celts.
What is true of the uses and distribution of stone axes applies with much the same force to what are called celts—not a good descriptive term, but one which is now given to the implement in lieu of something better. It would appear difficult or impossible to do with these rude tools any work for which we commonly use an ax or hatchet; and yet, by the aid of fire, or even without it, the aborigines contrived to accomplish a great deal with them.