industrious people, though
their scale in civilization was yet low. Their various implements
of bone, horn, and stone display considerable advance over the rude
articles of the Drift.

Illustration of Neolithic Axes.--------------------

One of the most important implements was the ax. The Paleolithic
hatchet, we remember, was rude, massive, and only roughly chipped into
shape, and was intended to be held in the hand. The Neolithic ax was a
much better made one, and was furnished with a handle. They were enabled
to accomplish a great deal with such axes. "Before it, aided by fire,
the trees of the forest fell to make room for the tiller of the ground,
and by its sharp edge wood became useful for the manufacture of various
articles and implements indispensable for the advancement of mankind
in culture."<17> These axes vary in size and finish. As a general thing
they are ground to a sharp, smooth edge, but not always, nor were they
always furnished with a handle.

Some axes are found with a hole bored in them, through which to pass
a handle. These perforated axes are found in considerable numbers, and
some have denied that they could be produced without the aid of metal.
It is almost self-evident that the perforated axes are later in date
than the solid ones, and probably many of them are no earlier in time
than the Age of Metals. There is, however, nothing to show that all
belong to so late a time. Besides, experiments have amply shown that
even the hardest kind of flint can be drilled without the aid of
metals.<18>

Warlike implements are, of course, quite common. Many of the axes found
are probably war axes. Then besides we have arrowheads, spears,
and daggers. These are considered to be "marvels of skill in flint
chipping."<19> Stone was used for a great many other purposes, such as
scrapers, sling-stones, hammers, saws, and so on. Flint was generally
the kind of stone used. Our civilization owes a great deal to this
variety of stone. It is not only hard, but its cleavage is such that it
was of the greatest use to primitive man. In a general way the Neolithic
stone implements are seen to be better adapted to the object in view
than the Paleolithic specimens. They are also generally polished.

Wood was largely used in their common household implements. But it is
only in exceptional cases that it has been preserved to us. They
have been recovered, however, in peat-bogs and in the remains of lake
settlements.