. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. 24. Figs. 25. 26. -Stone balls from Spue Ranch. CLUBKEADS, BALLS. Balls of hard stone of rea- sonably accurate spherical shape are encountered in the ruins, but never as mortuary objects with the dead. It is possible that they are hammerstones worked down from long use, but apparently they were reduced by the ordinary processes of stone working for a definite purpose and, it appears prob- able, were originally inclosed in rawhide for the slung shot or flexible head club, such as is used by the Apaches. No specimens so mounted, howeve
. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. 24. Figs. 25. 26. -Stone balls from Spue Ranch. CLUBKEADS, BALLS. Balls of hard stone of rea- sonably accurate spherical shape are encountered in the ruins, but never as mortuary objects with the dead. It is possible that they are hammerstones worked down from long use, but apparently they were reduced by the ordinary processes of stone working for a definite purpose and, it appears prob- able, were originally inclosed in rawhide for the slung shot or flexible head club, such as is used by the Apaches. No specimens so mounted, however, have been found in archeological sites, such as caves or shelters, where they would likely be preserved. Another suggestion is that these balls are used in games, and probably the smaller specimens had this employment, as this form has survived among the Pueblos and the Pimas, Cocopas, Mohaves, and other southern Arizona and California tribes. Some of the stone balls are from Spur Ranch, Luna, New Mexico. (Figs. 24, 25, 26.) These are smoothly made from hard stone and were probably used in games, or, with less probability, as clubheads. (Cat. No. 231958, ; diam- eter, 1:^, 1|, and If inches.) "What appears to be a clubhead is made of soft stone, is oblong and rounded, and on one side a projection has been formed, evidently for the purpose of hafting. (Fig. 27.) The rounded surface shows pittings, as though the implement were used for hammering. The character of the material, however, does not indicate its use as a hammer. (Cat. No. 231940, ; length, 3 inches; width, 2|; Spur Ranch, Luna, New Mexico.). Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original United States National Museum; Smithsonian Institution; United States. Dept. of the Interior. Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press,
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