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The Stone Implements of the Maori

[introduction]

A considerable number of odd or abnormal forms are met with in collections of Maori stone adzes. It is fairly clear, from the evidence of roughly fashioned, unground specimens, and of half-ground ones, that such oddities of form have often been caused by the peculiar shape of the rough stone, whether water-worn stone or a piece of a broken boulder. Some stones seem to break into triangular forms when broken up by hammering. Again, when a stone is so battered or hammered it often splits along a natural line of cleavage that leaves one face or side of a peculiar shape, possibly a concavity, that is not wholly removed by reducing the ends or by grinding. Some of these odd forms will now be described.