A. Blade circular in outline, including 180 degrees or more, or semielliptical with either axis transverse; sides of stem straight or slightly curved, parallel or slightly tapering to top, which is either straight or slightly rounded; shoulder nearly at right angles to stem, with sharp or rounded corners or sometimes barbed; stem and blade not differing greatly in length. The type of the class, presented in [figure 109], is of clay slate, from a mound in Monroe county, Tennessee. The other six specimens in the collection were distributed as shown in the table.
| District. | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western North Carolina | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Monroe county, Tennessee | 1 | 1 | |||
| Phillips county, Arkansas | 1 | ||||
| Pulaski county, Arkansas | 1 | ||||
| KEY: A = Green slate. B = Mica-schist. C = Compact quartzite. D = Clay slate. E = Quartzite. | |||||
B. Lower part of the blade a half circle or less; top square or slightly rounded; stem rapidly widening, with increasing curve to the blade, making an angle with it; stem and blade nearly the same length. A specimen of green slate, from Mississippi county, Arkansas, is illustrated in [figure 110]. Another, of compact quartzite, comes from Loudon county, Tennessee.
Fig. 110.—Spud.
C. Handle or stem round; very much longer than the blade, which is semicircular or semielliptical, with square or barbed shoulders. Illustrated in [figure 111] (probably of chloritic slate, from Prairie county, Arkansas).
Plummets.
The specimens known as plummets vary considerably in form, size, and degree of finish, indicating diversity of purpose, and different writers have assigned to them various uses.
According to Abbott, one of these relics was found at Salem, in a mortar.[83] Stevens says, quoting from Schoolcraft, that the Pennacook Indians used sinkers very much like a plummet in shape.[84] In Florida very rough plummets with deep grooves are found in the shell mounds, which were no doubt used as sinkers. The Indians of southern California use them as medicine stones to bring rain; the Eskimo use similar stones as sinkers, but have them perforated at the end. The larger objects of this form may have been used as pestles.[85] They might be made very efficient in twisting thread, as they revolve for a considerable time when set in motion.
