Hide-scrapers of the Formosan Aborigines in Connexion with the Use of Asymmetrical Adze

Abstract

Our present knowledge of the use of certain types of Neolithic stone implements leaves considerable room for discussion. In this paper the author deals with one of the possible uses of the so-called asymmetrical adze, from his observations of certain implement found among the Formosan aborigines and referred to in their legends.The asymmetrical adze is Dr. J. G. ANDERSSON'S name for a polished stone axe with cutting edge ground on one side only, which hitherto had generally believed to be used for adze, hoe, and chisel. The author has already pointed out the additional use of this sort of stone implement from. the case of the Yami tribe of Botel Tobago (Kotosho) who use it as an axe by fixing a wooden handle to it.From prehistoric sites elsewhere in the island of Formosa, the author has obtained asymmetrical adze, made of somewhat fragile rock or also of a stronger rock but in thin section, neither of which can stand any hard blows, such as those required of an axe, nor serve as a sharp edge in carving wood. For these reasons, the author was constantly under the impression that such a type of asymmetrical adze was used not for the purposes generally believed, but for some other purpose yet unknown to us.This supposition seems confirmed to some extent by what he found in the course of his two month's sojourn, last summer, among the mountain tribes of Central Formosa. In early August, the author excavated for relics the site of the Beyo village, belonging to the northern group of the Tsou tribe, and unearthed a considerable number of stone implements, besides pottery fragments, among which former were two types of unmistakable asymmetrical adzes, the one broad, and the other slender and of chisel-like shape (Fig, 1). Conversations with the old tribesmen promptly led the author to conclude that in their young days such stone implements were used as hide-scrapers, with the result that in the course of his later travels, his attention was directed to the hide-scrapers now being used by the aborigines, when it was found that the hide-scrapers now used closely resemble the asymmetrical adzes that were excavated from the Beyo site. The Tsou and Bunun tribes of this part of the island tan more leather for their domestic use than all the other Formosan aborigines. The deer, serow; and muntjac are the chief game-animals whose skins are used for garment. Their hide-scrapers may be divided into the following three types. The first, as used by the northern group of the Tsou tribe, and called Osisana, is a rectangular piece of iron about 12cm long and 3.5cm wide (Fig. 2-1). The hides, which are laid flat on the ground, are scraped with a pulling action, holding the tool in the hand. The second, which is called Kikiskis, Segisigisi-tatiya, and Komakiikis by the Bunun tribe and the southern groups of the Tsou tribe, is almost identical in shape and size with that of the preceding type, although the blade of the scraper is fastened with rattan cords to the loop of a wooden handle. The third type (Segisigisi-tigai) differs from the preceding in the blade being much slenderer and of smaller size (9cm long and 1.6cm wide). The southern group of . the Tsou tribe, who use it, do so prior to using the second type in scraping hides.From the foregoing observations, it is apparent that, in ancient times, asymmetrical adzes of both broad and slender forms were used for scraping hides, although, in accordance with the opinions of other investigators, the asymmetrical adze might have been used as adze, hoe, or chisel in certain cases. However, the author is strongly of the opinion that most of the asymmetrical adzes found in the various prehistoric sites of Eastern Asia were used for hide-scraping.