Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-08-11

large Wedge-Shaped ch1Sel, for log
splitting, probably; many so called
'tscrapers" with curved, sharp edge
for removing fleshy inside of hides
before working up the hairy leather;
some large smooth stones for crush
ing maize, or whole Indian corn,
making both -four and "samp" when
separated; one-half Of stone pipe
bowl found in shell heap on
Frenchman's Bay by Mr.. Wood, near
another perfect one found by an
other searcher and given elsewhere.
This suggested to me a search of
many museums for evidence of to-
bacco used in the Stone Age in our
country but not elsewhere. 1t is i'm
probable that specimens of fine Stone
Age Indian pipes will be found in
our vicinity as they are rarely found
in the northeast, but were used ex-
tensively south and west Of the
coast.
l have made a number of colored
illustrations, therefore, selected from
hundreds in the National Museum
and elsewhere, and placed them be-
side our pipe bowl, to show the evo-
luton of the tobacco pipe in America
and demonstrating the origin of to-
bacco plant growth on this CONT
nent. They are mostly from V1r-
ginia and neighboring states.
The proof of tobacco being con-
tribution to the worlds social lie Is
sanctioned by the descriptive state
ment in the Government Museum,
accompanying it's large Stone Age
pipe exhibit, copy of which Is
placed beside our lone pipe. 1t IS
probable that other stone pipe bowls
will be found here and added to this
collection later.
The Stone Age civilization Is not
without other evidence than imple-
ments Of war and agriculture found
only in shell heaps. Implements OF
sharp edged beaver teeth, ornaments
of bear and deer teeth, beside we'll
preserved bones of animals killed for
food, and tools made of bone-such
as fine-pointed avis for boring holes
in animal skins with which to make
clothing, moccasins, tents and other
necessities, sewn with strips Of raw
hide. Barbs for fish-hooks made OF
spikes of sharp-pointed hard bone
are quite numerous, corresponding
with the same type Of Goldfish hooks
still used by Esquimaux.
Occasionally fine long spear
head Is found, made of bone, sharp
at the point and notched along the
side by barbs, with hole at the up
per end in which to tie string
when the head detaches from the
gait of the spear as the seal or sal
mon is struck. Occasional frag-
ments of a comb made Of bone are
found, such as may be found in early
Egyptian tombs, one excellent such
piece being in the loan collection OF
Dwight Blaney.
Perishable Structure and Preserva-
ton.
It may be asked: Why have these
perishable structures been preserved
in shell heaps when they would have
disintegrated centuries ago If buried
in earth? AS yet, science and his
tory have to leave some facts to con-
lecture; and the two that confront
us are: Why the shell heaps and
why the preserving effect. Speculat-
ing somewhat as to the latter, we
must recognize the preservative &C
ton of carbonic acid gas and absence
of oxygen, as present in the enor-
nous accumulation of carbonate of
lime shells, holding the life-dsetroy-
ing carbon dioxide gas as sponge
holds water. The shell heaps have
everywhere layers of charcoal, rem