Down in the Cliff-Dweller country—and by this I mean the region drained by the Colorado and its tributaries—are discovered axes different from those found elsewhere in the United States. There are two in Fig. 262 from the collection of Luther A. Norland, La Jara, Colorado. I have shown these full size. They are made of agate-like stone, from which the Cliff-Dwellers worked some of their best axes, although such rocks are extremely hard. These specimens lashed in short handles would make formidable weapons, and the material is so hard that wood could be cut as easily, almost, as with an iron axe.
Fig. 276. (S. 1–4.) Fluted stone axe types. Drawn by Charles E. Brown.
Fig. 277. (S. 1–4.) Collection of Logan Museum, Beloit, Wisconsin. All these fluted axes were found in Wisconsin.
Fig. 278. (S. nearly 1–1.) Fluted axe. Joseph Ringeisen collection, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Found on a farm at the southwest end of Wind Lake, Racine County, Wisconsin.
No large axes are found in the Cliff-Dweller country and this type does not occur in the Pueblo country lying in the Salt River and Gila valleys, where axes similar to the central one shown in the top row, Fig. 254, are common. That axe is typical of the adobe ruins of the Salado and Gila valleys.
The two axes in Fig. 262 were found near each other on Agua Caliente, a tributary of the La Jara River. The one to the left is jadeite, in two shades of green, flecked with reddish brown. It shows three notches and two grooves. The one to the right is actinolite, the color is waxy burnt umber, flecked on the reverse side with green and white.
In Iowa there was an axe discovered, some years ago, which weighed thirty-two pounds. This is shown in Fig. 263 A, one fifth size. It is in possession of the Historical Department of Iowa and one of the most remarkable specimens in the United States. I am indebted to Messrs. Aldrich and Van Hyning for a cast of this axe. The material is hard gray granite. It was beautifully worked and polished, and said to be the largest axe in America.