Fig. 79.—Hematite celt.
Fig. 80.—Hematite celt.
Fig. 81.—Hematite celt.
Pestles.
The fact of the ordinary conical or bell-shaped, long-cylindrical, or somewhat pear-shaped stones having been used for pestles is so well settled that no confirmatory references are needed. A few citations may be given in regard to certain forms sometimes differently classed, especially some of the discoidal stones to be hereafter described.
According to Stevens, the corn crushers used by the Swiss lake dwellers are spherical; some are flattened on two sides, like an orange, others almost round with depressions on four sides. They are about the size of a man’s fist or rather smaller. The Africans have a piece of quartz or other hard stone as large as half a brick, one side of which is convex, to fit the hollow of a larger stone used as a mortar.[23] Evans observes that disks sometimes show marks of use as hammers or pestles;[24] one found at Ty Mawr was thick, with a cavity on each face.[25] In preparing pemmican, the American Indians are known to have pounded the dried meat to a powder between two stones.[26] This gives the impression that any suitable stones may have been used; and the ancient California Indians worked out a round stone as an acorn sheller, modern tribes using any smooth stone.[27]
Fig. 82.—Handled pestle, with expanding base.