Fig. 221. (S. 1–1.) This celt belongs in Class “B.” It is a typical specimen from the collection of J. J. Snyder, Frederick, Maryland. Such a celt would serve as a convenient hand-hatchet or tomahawk. It is sharp, small, and could be conveniently carried on the war-path, as the weight of the object and the handle, together, would not exceed two or two and a half pounds. The small, sharp, triangular hatchets I have always believed were weapons.
Fig. 222. (S. 1–3.) A plate of celts from the University of Vermont collection, Burlington. All of these were found near Lake Champlain. Several peculiarities are to be noted. The light-colored one in the lower row was first chipped and then ground and polished. The celt to the left, in the centre, is slightly indented on either side, and, as will be shown elsewhere in this book, such forms are not rare in New England. Five of these celts have straight sides. It is not necessary that the sides should be equidistant from each other, or that the poll should be exactly as wide as the blade, in order that celts may be classified as having straight sides. By straight sides, I mean sides which may be either sloping or straight, yet not curved. A tapering celt, a celt with a flaring edge and other forms may or may not have straight sides.
Fig. 224. (S. 1–3.)
It will be observed by the illustrations that celts, gouges, and stone hatchets are all closely related. Yet celts may be subdivided into six divisions, all of which are different. In adzes and gouges there are three divisions; in axes, five. But some other observer might place in two or three divisions what I have classed under C; for there are broad adzes, broad celts, alike in character, which may or may not have a knob on the back. There are also adzes slightly grooved, but not broad and thin. Some celts are thick, and others chisel-like, or pick-shaped. Yet in certain New England forms the distinguishing knob appears on the back. An adze may be almost triangular in cross-section. It may have no knobs on the back. Mr. Willoughby’s classification of these is presented in three plates,—the first, celts; the second, adze-blades or gouges; the third, adze-blades with grooves or knobs.
Fig. 225. (S. 1–2.) Celts and unknown objects from the New York State collection, Albany.
Fig. 218, from W. J. Martin’s collection, Leon, Kansas, exhibits pieces of sandstone and limestone almost celt-like in form, yet which were used for grinding and polishing. This illustrates how an ordinary stone could be worked into a celt and that almost any series can be arranged beginning with one type and ending with another.