Hobbies And Interests
Making Axes
Axes were made by using a stone bigger than the axe to be and repeatedly and rapidly striking it with a smaller hammerstone, which chipped away unwanted bits. The axes were then grooved and polished. Sometimes the entire axe was polished, but more often only the lower blade and groove area were given this treatment. The groove was made for the handle. Grooved axes were either full grooved, 3/4 or 1/2 grooved depending on the region. Full grooved and 1/2 grooved axes tended to be from the Midwest, 3/4 grooved axes were from the Southwest. Axes weren't used for battle or felling trees, but for collecting firewood or for ceremonies. They were about 4 to 8 inches long and could weigh as much as six pounds.
The Celt Axe
The Celt was a long and narrow ungrooved axe also created and used by Native American people. It was mounted in the socket of a thick ended handle. The name "celt" comes from a misspelling of the word certe in the Latin Vulgate Bible. The passage is "Stylo ferreo, et plumbi lamina, vel certe sculpantur in silice," which translates to "Let it indeed be carved with an iron pen on a slate of lead or in stone." Certe was written and understood as celte, which is the ablative case of celtis, which means "chisel." The term is used in archeology to describe an ax without groves or perforations to attach the haft.
Arrowheads and Other Weapons
Arrowheads were in use 11,000 years ago. They were made until the arrival of Europeans, when iron and steel points were traded. Until 800 A.D. the chief weapon in North America was the Atl-atl, a hand-held wooden lance. It can be hard to tell the difference between a lance and an arrowhead, but generally the lance head is about 2 inches long. Arrowheads are about one inch or a bit longer. Both of them were made by chipping off flakes of the unwanted material. Bone and antler chipping rods were also used. Hammerstones helped create the rough blank, then the weapon was flaked.
Materials
Many types of material were chipped for arrowheads, including flint, chalcedony, chert, jasper and obsidian, a volcanic glass. Petrified wood was used in the South, agateized coral in the Southeast and quartz in the East. Knives and blades were usually medium to large sized chipped tools and used as cutting instruments. Some blades had serrated or saw toothed edges, while others had sharp angles or bevels.
Drills, Spades, Hoes
There were also drills, which have been used in North America for about 10,000 years. They ranged from 1/2 inch to 4 inches long and were used to make holes in bone, shells, hard stone, slate, wood and rock crystal. Drills were turned with the fingers, attached to a rod and twirled between the palms or secured beneath a flywheel of a bow turned drill set. Native Americans also crafted spades and hoes of quality flint. Spuds, which were sharp, narrow spades, were also used. Spoons, ladles and dippers were made out of deer antler, or elk or buffalo horn.