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Show WORKMEN FIND A "BIRD STONE." Fine Specimen of Prehistoric Relic Unearthed at Streator, III. A fine specimen of the prehistoric "bird stone" was unearthed at Streator, Streat-or, 111., by workmen employed by the Chicago & Alton railroad. . It is five and a half .nehes long and an inch and a half high, anil arclicologists have pronounced it a magnificent specimen. A "bird stone," while of the undefined unde-fined class of prehistoric ornaments or charms which have been called "ceremonials, represents stone age art of no mean degree. This specimen speci-men is finely finished and polished and is extraordinary in its workmanship, workman-ship, gracefulness and beauty. It represents, rep-resents, perhaps, the highest achievement achieve-ment of prehistoric American art. Many theories regarding the use made of "bird stones" are fanciful. It has been asserted that thoy wero worn by married Indian women. Again, it is claimed that "bird stones" were worn by Indian conjurers. a!.d still another guess is that they wen bound to the prows of canoes. It has also been guessed that they were employed em-ployed in playing a game; that they were totems of tribes and clans, and that they were talismans in some way connected with the hunt foi water fowl. This "bird stone" unearthed by the Chicago & Alton engineers must have been hammered or pecked intc shape, and afterward ground to its present form, and then polished diligently, for it. Is nearly as smooth as glast. Consideration Con-sideration of the then existing conditions con-ditions demonstrates the difficulty of making the object and the dexterity and workmanship required. |