Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-15

E--SS3ac46sr6s9f-GgS20 cOIHpleleu 6ioups
depicting scenes
from the daily life of the aborig1nes.
These groups form part OF COM
plete series OF exhibits showing the
general character o. the various peo-
pies of the world One, known as the
quarry group. is interesting to Wash
ingtonians or account of the fact that
il represents scene in the present
District of Columbia before the COM
ing OF the white man. 1t shows group
OF six Indians mining or quarrylng
rocks for utensils, weapons and other
articles and shaping them for future
use.
This group Is intended TO illustrate
the work carried on in the great quar-
ries on Piny branch and in the asso-
ciated workshops not long before the
arrival OF the English, some 300 years
ago. near the point where Eighteenth
street would cross that stream. The
broken powders and fakage left on
the shop sites are, in places, ten feet
or more in depth.
The man at the left IS represented
as employing heavy wooden pike IN
pryng up the larger powders, while
the second breaks them up prepara-
tory 70 selecting fragments OF suitable
size and shape for implement making.
The third man roughs out the forms
of the implements by means OF quick.
sharp blows with q bowlGer hammer,
using either the selected fragments
or the smaller powders for the pur-
pose
The fourth workman trims the edges
and shapes up the thin blades with an
implement OF bone or antler set In
wooden shaft The taking is accom-
plished by setting the point OF this
implement against the edge of the
roughed out blade, and pressing 1t
downward with 4 quick. strong move
ment, REINFORCED b. the weight OF
the body. Flakes are thus removed
from the under side, and the folded
buckskin pad serves tc prevent break.
age Of the blade under treatment.
This work, however, was not com.
p!eted at the quarry, the blades being
usually carried away TO be finished as
the implements were needed.
The finishing touches are given. as
indicated by the fifth workman, who
chips out the notches and shapes the
points by means Of a small tiakcr OF
bone or like material. which is pressed
down on the sharp edge OF the blade
until it takes hold" Then, by a
quick push. the fake is driven Off.
John Smith OF the jamestown colony.
about 1908. says. speaking OF a Pow.
hatan hunter. that His arrowhead he
quickly maketh with little bone
which he ever weareth at his brasert
(belD."
The shaping processes here Illus
trated were formerly in general use
among the tribes. The women doubt.
less aided In the work OF transporta.
ton and in preparing food for the
auarrymen. The costumes shown are
IlicUeISu al ItI INT VI luC
Virginia Indians at the period OF dis.
covery, as illustrated in the drawings
of John White, artist OF the Roanoke
colony.
That the quarries Of the region were
worked b. the powhatans and ada
cent tribes is amply proved by the dis
royary. on their deserted village sites
and In their shell heaps throughout
the acknowledgements region, OF
countless numbers Of implements iden-
teal with those produced in the local
quarries.
This group was designed by w. H..
Holmes. head curator Of anthropology:
the figures were modelled by U. S. j..
Dunbar. the sculptor, and the whole
was installed by II. w. Hcndley, the
chronological preparation.