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STONE AXES

91

cases, stone celts have even been found lying at the side. In the excavations known as Grimes' Graves, again, as already mentioned (ante, p. 80), a basalt hatchet was found, which had evidently been used for excavating the gallery, as shown by the marks still distinctly visible on the walls.

Prehistoric Times - Fig 106.png

Fig. 106.—Stone celt or hatchet. Formed of felstone, 53/4 inches long and 2 broad.

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Prehistoric Times - Fig 107.png

Fig. 107.—Stone celt or hatchet, actual size. Found in the river Shannon. One of the smallest yet found in Ireland.

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Prehistoric Times - Fig 108.png

Fig. 108.—Stone celt with a wooden handle, Monaghan, Ireland.

One use of the North American tomahawk was to crush bones for the sake of the marrow;[1] and no doubt the ancient stone implements also served the same purpose.

In many cases the axes themselves bear unmistakable marks of long continued use. For instance, the specimen represented in figs. 110, 111, has no doubt once been much longer, and had surfaces consisting of one continuous sweep. The edge, however, having been destroyed by use, it was again chipped sharp and repolished, the new surface meeting the old one at a. A second time the

  1. ↑ James' Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, vol. i. p. 193.
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