Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 1.djvu/153

 132 Primitive Greece : Mycenian Art. by cleavage pieces to be made into hammers, axes, and arrow- heads (Fig. 24). It was something to have succeeded, by processes just referred to, in providing themselves with instruments capable of attacking and cutting substances of considerable resistance ; the next step was to find out how to maintain their trenchant Fdi. 14. — Nuclei. Obsidian, edge, which in time usage would blunt. Hence sharpening- tools or whet-stones came into being ; for we must consider in this light those long flat plates or slabs, found in countries the most diverse, in America and Europe.' The hole at one end was intended for suspension, the stone having been apparendy worn about the person, tied with a string, so as to have it ready to hand, for whetting the weapon or tool as occasion should require {Fig. 25). Most of these slabs were of very hard schist ; experience having taught them how well suited was this stone for the purpose. This, and other indications, help us to determine the real destination of these implements, which at one time was ill understood by the scholars who first called attention ' SCHLILMANN, lUos.