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H 6 The Conservative *
NEBRASKA FLINTS.
Some time ngo we promised the read
ers of The Conservative a description of
some of the curious flints found in Ne
braska.
After many disappointments and de
lays we herewith present illustrations of
some of the prominent types.
Plate I : Numbers 1 to 5 inclusive
show the finer chipped flints found in
all parts of the state. This is the type
which I. have referred to as the "Hara-
hey Type" in my articles. .
Numbers 6 and 7 are likewise smooth
ly chipped specimens and may be classi
fied as "Harahoy" also. We can only
show a few of the many flints found ,
and in my selection I have endeavored
to present all varieties of form and ma
terial. The "Harahey Type" is more
evenly distributed over the state than is
the coarser "Quivera T.ype. " They are
not. so large and show more skill in
their execution. Some of them are
made from the blue flint found at Ne-
Imwka , but far the greater number are
of red , white , yellow or black flint not
found in this state. The name "Hara
hey" is only used to distinguish these
finer specimens from the paleolithic ,
coarse-chipped or Qnivera specimens
shown in Nos. 14,15 , 1G and 17. No. 25
may properly belong to this class ; it is
of a dark-blue or almost black flint ; it
was found in Otoe county , but the ma
terial came from Kansas.
No. 8 of plate I is interesting ; in all
the works published on archaeology
which I. have been permitted to see ,
there is not a description of a like im
plement.
It is one and three-eighths inches in
diameter , is flat on the under side and
about half an inch thick in the center.
It is nearly circular and was evidently
chipped to its present form for a pur
pose. I have a number of specimens ,
varying in size from half an inch to
two inches in diameter , and found in
various parts of the state. Larger
flints , chipped circular and convex on
both sides , have been described as an
article of merchandise flints blocked
roughly for traffic but these are not
the same. I can offer no explanation at
tin's time.
Numbers 9 and 10 are specimens of
the knife. They are very thin and
sharp and were intended to have han
dles , as "may be plainly noted.
11 , 12 and 18 are a mystery at this
writing ; they are a type of implement
not illustrated elsewhere. I have many
specimens , found only at the flint
mines at Nehawka , and made from the
blue flint. This implement is flat or
concave on the under side , usually
showing no chipping except on the
upper side , and the peculiar chipping at
the point is the only interesting feature.
I have called them a "chisel" and
think they may have been used in digging -
' ging out canoes or in working wood
they ore invariably sharp on the point
edge only.
Number 21 is a drill made of brown
flint which L. have not found in this
state. It was picked up by Prof. Nick-
ersou on the banks of Cedar creek ,
about ten rods from "The Leap , " near
Pnllertou , Nance county , Neb. This
diminutive specimen is very neat one
of the best ever found in the state. Its
shape is unique. I have never seen its
counterpart illustrated. Mr. Parker of
Florence , Neb. , has the frame in which
the rod ; then after placing the drill in
place with its rod vertical , a constant
circular motion is imparted to the drill
by moving the block up and down on
the rod. The device is very ingenious
as well as effective , but every one can
not work it as Mr. Parker can.
I wish to mention No. 19 especially ;
this implement is flat or concave on the
under side , that is , it shows that it is
made from a chip broken off the flint
block with a curved fracture , and is
evenly chipped on the other side. No.
PLATE I.
these flint drills were used. This frame
consists of a wooden rod about a foot
long which passes through a block of
wood loosely ; to the upper end of this
rod are attached two strips of raw hide ,
the other ends of which are attached to
the block. The flint drill is inserted-in
the other end of the wooden rod and
secured by sinew. To operate the drill ,
take the block in the hand and with a
gentle motion wind the rawhide around
19 would fit a common baseball nicely
and is two and one-half inches long
Its use is a matter of conjecture. I
have a number of like specimens or it
would be termed an accident.
The remaining numbers , 14 , 15 , 1(5,17 ( ,
18 , 20 , 22 , 28 and 24 , all belong to the
coarsely chipped "Quivera Type. " They
are paleolithic in form but were found
"above ground. " No real paleolithics
are so found and these were merely the
