EXPLORATIONS IN TURKESTAN

LARGER STONE IMPLEMENTS OF THE KURGANS AT ANAU. 481
By far the best worked of the larger stone implements taken from either kurgan,
if we except the mortar shown in fig. 532, is shown in fig. 530. The shattered
end is roughly squared; the other has a circular cross-section and is carved
with beautifully smoothed flutings, converging to a point at the center. The
ridges between the flutings are sharp and their bottoms are even and round. If
the ancient inhabitants of this kurgan had other use for it than ceremonial, it
must have been on soft material, for the repeated, and seemingly intended, blows
which have shattered one end have had no corresponding effect on the other.
Fig. 531 shows a large mealing-stone found in the South Kurgan, but typical
of those of both, after they had been worn down in the middle by continued friction
with a muller such as is seen in fig. 496.
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520 524 523
Figs. 517-524.-Pestles and Mullers from the South Kurgan.
Figs. 532 and 533 represent a highly developed form of stone mortar, which is
all the more interesting from its close resemblance to that still in use. Fig. 532 is
about 5 inches high. It is from the IV or Iron Culture at the top of the South
Kurgan.
The information we can get concerning the daily life of these people is but
slightly augmented by examination of their larger stone implements. We find
that by far their commonest household tool that has come down to us (not counting
the spinning weight described in Dr. Schmidt's report) is the mealing-stone and
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