Projectiles.—A single compound arrow (139587) or dart is in the Palmer Collection. Although it is broken, there can be no doubt that the two pieces of cane shaft form a single piece, 92.5 cm. in length ([pl. 15], a). There is no foreshaft. The sting-ray spine, which makes an excellent natural projectile point, was let directly into the split end of the cane, and was secured by cord binding (see “[Haftings]”). Instead of the usual nock in the butt end of the shaft for a bowstring, there is a cuplike depression ([fig. 1]). This suggests, of course, that this may have been a dart for use with a thrower or atlatl. Although that weapon is unreported in the Spanish sources on central and northern Baja California, dart-throwers were reported by Spanish explorers for the first quarter of the 17th century for the southern Cape Region; they are also known archaeologically from the same area (Massey, 1957, pp. 55-62).
Fig. 1. Detail of arrow or dart (139587), showing sting-ray
spine point and cuplike depression at butt end.
One smoothed wooden specimen (139560) appears to have been a foreshaft. It is sharply pointed at one end, and has a cuplike depression in the opposite, thicker end. It is straight and tapered, with a length of 38 cm. ([pl. 15], f). Similar specimens are common in historic levels of caves in the Sierra de La Giganta (Massey and Tuohy, MS).
Viznaga spines.—A bundle of seven spines of the Viznaga cactus (Echinocactus wislizeni) was found (139547; [pl. 14], a). These spines had all been straightened from their natural curved condition. They could have served a variety of piercing purposes.
Miscellaneous wooden artifacts.—In addition to the artifacts of vegetable origin that can be identified with certainty, there are several fragments and whole specimens which remain to be considered.
There is a round straight piece of wood (139559), measuring 30.5 cm. in length and 8 mm. in diameter, which has both ends blunted and rounded, apparently from use in grinding and pounding ([pl. 15], e). Its exact use is unknown.
Two sticks, lashed together in two places, were found (139585a). Together they measure 50 cm. in length ([pl. 15], c). The longer pointed stick has a notched end as for an arrow butt (see “[Haftings]” for details of the tying).
There is also a round, sharply pointed, and tapered fragment of hardwood with a length of 8.8 cm. The shape suggests that it may have been part of a digging stick; however, the specimen is very highly polished on all of its preserved surfaces.