Fig. 2.—Ironstone implement, Robin Hood Cave, 11.
entirely discarded the implements of stone and bone, relics of such materials are not uncommonly found in graves which cannot be regarded as ancient. The Shoshones, though mostly provided with tools of iron and steel of approved patterns, are still to be seen employing as a scraper in the dressing of skins a mere 'teshoa,' consisting of a small worn boulder, thinner at one end, split through the middle in such a manner as to furnish a rough cutting-edge at one side. There seems to be a considerable advantage in this over any form of knife or other tool which has yet reached them from without; and it is probable that it will be retained so long as their present method of preparing hides is in vogue"[1]. Probably those of the Robin-Hood Cave were put to the same use.
A fragment of "red raddle" from the cave-earth had probably been used for painting.
The large number of splinters in the cave proves that it was used by the hunters as a place of resort for a considerable time, and that they brought the raw material along with them, and made their cutting-tools as they were wanted, on the spot. The numerous broken bones prove that they were in the habit of breaking bones for the sake of the marrow, after the fashion of many savage tribes
- ↑ 'Reconnaissance of North-western Wyoming,' by W. A. Jones, p. 261.
