[141] Am. Naturalist, 1868, Vol. I, pl. 15, fig. 15, 583.
[142] Der Mensch, II, p. 558-560.
[143] Ninth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1887-88, p. 175, fig. 147.
[144] l. c., p. 317, fig. 323.
[145] Recently a great deal has been written about the relation of widely separated peoples to each other. And this relationship has usually followed definite geographic lines. It is, however, worth while to notice the great similarity between the implements of eastern and western United States, and those of the caves of Switzerland and of the Arctic region. Many implements of similar type and use are to be found in these regions, implements which are not discovered in any other portion of the world.
7. Various Implements and Objects of Bone.
It naturally occurs that in a shellmound in which so many implements of bone have been preserved there would be a number of bone objects the use of which can only be imperfectly determined. These implements are in part possibly only attempts to work bone, in part they are actually implements which had a use somewhat different from that of the other forms and a use for which the character of the material especially fitted them.
Figs. 32 and 33. × 1/2. Bone artifacts of unknown use.
Many fragments of bone show only a few cuts or marks as indications that they were worked. In one case, 1-8527, fig. 32, stratum IX, the marks which vary somewhat from those in the other strata may represent an implement of the paper-cutter type. The point is in this case calcined, as is also true of many other implements. This is evidently done intentionally, possibly in order to work the bone more easily. Other common bone fragments look as if they had occasionally been used as implements when they happened to have the right form, and that they were not intentionally worked into this shape. Still other bone fragments show knife-like incisions on the other edges, as, for example, that shown in fig. 33, 1-8877, stratum VIIa. They are probably not to be considered as marks of dog’s teeth, as which these could also be determined, for they are generally very numerous in one place or else they show exceeding regularity as if made intentionally.