The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-06-08
MISCELLANEOUS.
Indian Arrow Heads &c.

Red Race, now found in those parts of
our country from which it has disappeared,
are the small stones with which they
headed their arrows. Being made of the
most durable substances, they have gen.
orally remained in the soil, unaffected by
time and the change Of season. They
most abound in those rich meadows which
border some of our rivers, and ia other
spots of peculiar fertility, though of less
extent, where the pasture, or other attrac-
tions, collected game for the Red men.
The stones most commonly used were
quartz and flint, which were preferred on
account of the facility OF shaping them,
the keenness of the points and edges which
they readily present under the blows of
skilful manufacturer, as well as their su-
perior hardness and imperishable nature.
Mutitudes of specimens still exist, which
show the various forms and sizes to which
the Red men reduced stones of these kinds:
and they excite our admiration, by their
perfect state of preservation, as well as
by the skilfulness of their manufacture.
Other stones, however, were not I'M
frequently used and a collection which
we have been making for many years,
presents a considerable variety materials,
as well as Of sizes, shapes and colors.
Hard sandstone, trap or graacke, jasper
and chalcedony appear occasionally some
almost transparent. One of the larger
size is made of steatite, and smooth, as if
cut or scrape1 with knife, contrary to
the common method, of gradually chipping
off small fragments Of more brittle stone,
by light blows often repeated These ar
row heads we're fastened to the shaft, by
inserting the butt into the split end, and
tying round it string Of deer's sinews.
A groove or depression is commonly OBJ
servable in the stone, designed to receive
the string. But it is sometimes difficult
to imagine how the fastening was affected,
as some perfect arrow-heads show no such
depressions, and their forms are not well
adapted to such purpose. This pecul-
iarity, however, is most frequently to be
observed in specimens of small size, the
larger, and especially such as are COM
monty supposed to have been the heads of
spears, being usually well shaped for ty-
ing.
1t is remarkable that some spots have
been found, where such relics were sur.
prizingly numerous In Hartford, Con
necticut, about thirty years ago, many
were picked up in garden, at the corner
of Front and Mill streets. The spot
was indeed on the bank of the Little
River, probably at the head of Indian
Canoe navigation but yet no rational
conjecture could be formed to account for
the discovery, except one. 1t was cou-
cluded that the place was an ancient bury
ing.ground. Many bits of coarse earthen.
ware were found, such as are common in
many parts of the country. About two
miles below Middletown, Connecticut, on
the slope of hi, on the southern side of
the Narrows, we discovered, some Years
since, great number Of small fragments
of white quartz, scattered thickly over the
surface of the ground, perhaps for half an
acre. Among them were several arrow
heads Of various forms, most Of them i'm.
perfect, and many. pieces Of stoue, which
at first sight resemble them, but, on closer
inspection, seemed to have been designed
for arrow heads, but spoiled in the making.
Some had one good edge. OF point OIL
barb, while the other parts of the same
stones showed only the natural form and
fracture In many instances, it was easy
to see that the workmen might well have
been discouraged from proceeding any
farther, by a flaw, break of the nature
of the stone. Our conclusion was, tha
the spot had long been a place where In
dian arrow heads were made, and that VIZ
saw around us the refuse fragments rejec
ted by the workmen. Other spots have
been heard Of resembling this.
If such relics were found nowhere els,
but in our own country, they would b,
curious, and worthy of preservation an,
attention; but it is an interesting fact, no
however generally known, that they exis
in many other parts Of the world. Ston
arrow and spear heads have been foun
in England for hundreds of years, and ar
believed TO have been made and used b
the Britons. who, in respect to civilization
were nearly on level with our indians
These relics are called by the commo
people Celts, from the race whose memof
they recal and particular accounts {
them are given, with drawings, in sever;