Page:Prehistoric Times.djvu/112

98 substance. I say a soft substance, because the polished part overlaps on both sides, and passes in between the teeth of the saw, which would not have been otherwise the case. It is probable that the semi-lunar instruments were fixed in wooden handles, and then used in cleaning skins. Similarly-shaped instruments are even now used as knives by the Esquimaux women, under the name of Ooloos. It might be convenient to apply this term to the ancient Danish specimens.

The so-called "awls" are rude pieces of flint, or flakes worked up at one place by a number of small chips to a point (fig. 195). Though not very sharp, they are pretty strong.

The spear-heads are very variable in size and form; some of them are scarcely distinguishable from large arrow-heads; others are much larger. Some are so rude that it is questionable whether they were finished, while others are marvellous specimens of ancient art. One in my possession is 12 in, in length, 1$1⁄2$ in. in breadth, and of wonderfully beautiful workmanship. It is one of six, found together in the chamber of a large tumulus in the island of Moen.

The daggers (figs. 124–128) are often marvels of skill in flint-chipping. The form so closely resembles that of metallic daggers, that some antiquaries are inclined to regard them as copies of bronze daggers, and therefore as not belonging to the Stone Age. The