Fig. 361. (S. 1–1.) From the collection of A. Setterlun, The Dalles, Oregon.
CONCLUSIONS AS TO GORGETS, WINGED OBJECTS, ETC.
In the preceding pages I have had so much to say about supposed use of problematical forms, that there is little need for lengthy conclusions. Moreover, in general Conclusions in “The Stone Age,” I shall consider the meaning of these and other things in more detail.
Fig. 362. (S. 1–3.) Four beautiful boat-stones from the collection of B. H. Young, Louisville, Kentucky. All are highly executed and polished, from various portions of Kentucky. Materials: Greenstone and banded slate.
Many of the tablets or winged objects have been called “shuttles,” and were supposed to have been used in the weaving of cloth and nets. Other less sensible uses have been applied to these things.
It has always seemed to me ridiculous to claim that the prehistoric peoples made use of objects, on which a great deal of time and hard labor were spent, for ordinary purposes. Last summer when among the Ojibwa, I made particular inquiries of them regarding the use of various implements; particularly the small triangular boards, cut in the form of stone tablets, with which I saw old women weaving nets. They informed me that they used similar small, flat pieces of wood with concave ends in olden times.
Fig. 363. (S. 1–2.) Five ridged gorgets from the Andover collection. Attention is called to the one with the horn-like elevation.