The stone axes are not very different from those of the Rio Grande and
the Gila, but it is to be noticed that they are not so numerous as
in the latter region, and are probably inferior in workmanship, fine
specimens indeed being rare. The majority of the axes (fig. 4) are
single grooved, but a few have two grooves. In Dr. Swope’s collection,
now in the Deming High School, there is a fairly good double-bladed axe.
[Illustration: FIG. 4.—Stone axe. Length 8¾″.]
[Illustration: FIG. 5.—Arrow polisher. Length 3¼″, breadth 2½″.]
Miss Alnutt, of Deming, has a remarkable collection of arrowpoints
gathered from many localities in the valley, and also a few fine
spearpoints, conical pipes, and other objects taken from the sacred
spring at Faywood Hot Spring. A beautiful arrow polisher found near
Deming is shown in figure 5.
The pipes from the Mimbres take the form of tubular cloud-blowers,
specimens of which are shown in figure 6. Apparently these pipes were
sometimes thrown into sacred springs, but others have been picked up on
the surface of village sites or a few feet below the surface.
[Illustration: FIG. 6.—Cloud blowers. Faywood Hot Springs. (Swope
collection.) ½ nat. size.]
Lateral and top views of one of the characteristic forms of small stone
mortars with a handled projection on one side is shown in figure 7.
This specimen is in the Swope collection in the Deming High School.
In the same collection there are also two beautiful tubular pipes, or
cloud-blowers, from the same spring.
[Illustration: FIG. 7.—Handled mortar. (Swope collection.) Length 10¾″.]
The stone mortars from Mimbres ruins vary in size. Many are simply
spherical stones with a depression on one side; others are larger but
still spherical, or ovate; while others have square or rectangular
forms. The most remarkable feature in these is the presence of a handle
on one side, which occasionally is duplicated, and in one instance four
knobs or legs project from the periphery. These projections appear to
characterize the mortars of the Mimbres, although they are not confined
to them, as the form occurs in other regions of New Mexico and in
California. One of the most instructive of these small spherical paint
mortars, now owned by Mr. E. D. Osborn, has ridges cut in high relief
on the outside.
Metates and manos, some broken, others whole, are numerous and can be
picked up on almost every prehistoric site. While some of these metates
are deeply worn, showing long usage, others have margins but slightly
raised above the surface. The majority of metates found on the sites of
habitations have no legs, but a typical Mexican metate with three knobs
in the form of legs was presented to the National Museum by the Rev.
E. S. Morgan, of Deming. Metates are sometimes found in graves with
skeletons, presumably those of women. Several ancient metates are now
in use as household implements in Mexican dwellings.
If the size of the population were to be gauged by the number of
mortars and manos found, certainly the abundance of these implements
would show that many people once inhabited the plain through which
flows the Mimbres River. Narrow, flat stone slabs have an incised
margin on one end. Their use is problematical. The frequency of stone
balls suggests games, but these may have been used as weapons; or
again, they were possibly used in foot races, as by the Hopi of to-day.