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The Stone Implements of the Maori

The Blade

The Blade

By inspecting a number of local stone adzes, or perusing the descriptions thereof in this paper, it will readily be seen that, in New Zealand forms, the widest part is generally at the cutting-edge, but sometimes in the middle of the tool, and occasionally across the shoulder.

In most specimens the blade is formed by a heavy bevel on the back of the tool—i.e., the face confronting the operator-and a much slighter and longer bevel or, rather, curve on the face. The intersection of these two bevels forms the cutting-edge. The face-bevel is usually but a continuation of the longitudinal curve or convexity of the face, but this convexity is in most cases somewhat accentuated at the blade end of the implement. On the back, however, the bevel is a heavy one, more or less abrupt, often forming a prominent shoulder where it intersects the plane of the back, but sometimes rounded off by grinding so that the bevel merges gradually into the line, flat or curved, of the back. The angle formed by the two bevels at the cutting-edge differs considerably in some hundreds of specimens observed, as will be seen by referring to the descriptions of divers types given elsewhere.

As a rule, the blade-bevel on the back of the tool is curved or convex longitudinally, but is much steeper or more pronounced near the cutting-edge than it is higher up. The angle of inclination may be 50° or 60° near the edge, and drop to 25° or 30° on the upper part of the blade. This thickness near the cutting-edge is to prevent it breaking or chipping when used.

One of the lightest face-bevels noted is on a specimen 1½ in. wide, 1⅛ in. thick, and 6 in. long, the face of which is almost a plane surface, the bevel at the cutting-edge amounting to about ⅛ in., an unusually light one. The blade is in almost every case somewhat convex transversely on the face and convex longitudinally on the back. In some cases it is concave transversely on the back.

The other, and less frequently met with, form of blade is described in detail elsewhere. This is quite a different form of tool, inasmuch as in this type the two faces—i.e., face and back—converge gradually and equally to form the cutting-edge, which is in a plane with the axial centre of the implement.

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Evans thinks that the obliquity of the cutting-edge seen in some stone tools may have been connected with some peculiar method of hafting, but there seems to be no proof to support such a supposition in connection with our Maori stone adzes. Such an oblique form of cutting-edge is occasionally seen in local specimens, but may have been produced by grinding out a flaw or gap in such edge.

The gradual expansion in width from the butt to the cutting-edge, so often noted in our descriptions, may also be seen in certain steel forms, such as the tomahawks supplied to the Maoris by early traders on these coasts. In like manner the stone cutting-tools with parallel sides, as found in divers lands, seem to have given their shape to a certain type of iron axe, such as the long-bitted old-fashioned English axes. In fact, every form of modern and mediaeval iron or steel axe, single and double bitted, expanding blade and parallel sides, straight and curved cutting-edge, seems to have borrowed its shape from the primitive stone axes and adzes of neolithic man. The curved cutting-edge seen in stone tools becomes the rounded edge in modern steel chopping-axes, and the " timber spring " of our hewing axe and adze. The longitudinal and transverse convexity seen in stone forms may also be observed in the blades of our steel axes. Some of the stone axes illustrated in the works of Evans and other writers are startlingly like modern steel forms. When the axe-makers of old acquired metal, about all they had to do was to reduce the thickness of the stone implement and take it for a model.

One of the longest blade-bevels we have noted in the Museum collection is 5 in. This is on an unusually long adze.

Sudden expansion at or near the cutting-edge is not noted in New Zealand forms as it is in America and Europe. Expansion toward the cutting-edge is gradual in local forms, usually commencing at the butt.

In most cases the blade seems to have been formed by a chipping and bruising process, but in some cases the stone has been flaked off to form the bevel, until the desired angle of inclination was attained. Some of these flakes were upwards of 3 in. in length. Some forms of slate, and other stones, seem to so lend themselves to flaking.

When in this account mention is made of the shoulder, the shoulder formed by the junction of the blade and back is meant. When the shoulder formed by pecking or bruising down the face of the butt end is spoken of, it will be termed the "butt shoulder."

As a rule, the cutting-edge is somewhat curved, save in the very small adze-shaped tools. In some cases it is semicircular, but generally of not so pronounced a curve. A few specimens have an oblique page 227cutting-edge, but it is usually at right angles to the length of the tool. In the former cases such obliquity may well have been caused by the grinding-out of a gap or notch at one corner, as it is often so produced in our modern steel tools.

Many adzes have the cutting-edges broken; in some cases the whole point has been broken off. This may have been due to accident, or the action of fire. Again, when iron tools were introduced the common stone adzes became worthless, and were discarded, left lying about, and, in many cases doubtless, were broken or destroyed by children. Cases are known where not only native children, but also adult whites, have wantonly destroyed stone implements. The saying of the men of yore was He potiki whatiwhati toki (an adze-breaking child). The saying applied to white vandals by collectors is different, and contains more adjectives.

Evans speaks of celts with almost semicircular cutting-edges as having probably been used as gouges. He also states that the blade of some British specimens have been formed by the striking-off of a single flake to form a facet. In rough specimens we note that the Maori fashioned the blade by chipping off small pieces until the desired bevel and form of cutting-edge was obtained, when the tool was finished by bruising and grinding. The same writer thinks that blades may have been ground When the tool was made, but that when it became blunted it was chipped to form a new edge. The Maori folk were wont to grind out any gap formed in a cutting-edge, though if a large piece of the blade were broken off they would refashion it by chipping. They would then grind the new face of the blade smooth, prior to using the tool. The Maori does not seem to have ever used an adze without grinding at least the cutting-edge thereof, and generally the whole blade, if not, as was often the case, the whole of the tool except the poll.

It is because these tools were hafted as adzes that we do not see any local forms with a cutting-edge at each end. Such tools were evolved in lands where the stone celt was hafted as an axe; and when the old-time axe-makers learned how to bore a hole in the middle of the tool, through which to pass the helve, the double-bitted axe was evolved. This form has frequently been met with in Ireland.

Evans speaks of a celt having the cutting-edge in exactly the same plane as the face as abnormal. The reason of this is obvious. If made as an axe, the two bevels to form the blade and cutting-edge are equal, because an axe of such shape does the better work. If made and used as an adze, primitive man knew as well as we do that the page 228face of the tool needs to be slightly curved longitudinally in order to do good work. It also works better if it is somewhat convex transversely.

In cross-section Maori adzes may be—(1) rectangular, as oblong or almost square; (2) ovoid; (3) triangular; (4) Adze cross section shape -shaped. Any other sectional form is abnormal, such as diamond-shaped and several others that will be alluded to.

In the following descriptions of specimens the length of blade-bevel on the back of the tool means axial measurement—that is, from cutting-edge to shoulder.

The thickness of not only the blade, but of the whole tool, depended on the texture of the stone and on the kind of work it was intended to do with it.

Any person accustomed to using tools must admire the form of the blades and cutting-edges of these stone adzes. The longitudinal curve of the face keeps the cutting-edge from digging too deeply into the timber. The transverse convexity of the face lifts the corners of the cutting-edge, and prevents them sticking in or marring the surface of the worked material, and also results in a thin-edged chip and a clean cut. The slight curve of the face of the blade gives it the proper "lift" in adzing timber; hence a chip can be cut right off and does not have to be torn or broken off.