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Makah Cultural and Research Center Online Museum

Stone Technology

Illustration of stone toolsStone hammers, anvils, halibut line weights, canoe anchors, and fishhook shanks were found at Ozette. More than 700 whetstones were come from three houses, reminder of the constant need for sharpening bone and stone blades and points. Probably sandstone-and also whalebone and dogfish skin-were used as sandpaper.

South of Ozette, petroglyphs pecked into boulders include motifs that match those in the houses. More than 40 of these are concentrated at a single point.

Stone is worked by breaking it and wearing it away to get the desired shape or line. The process is slow, the results durable and highly valued.


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The Community Museum is a project of community organizations and Tribes across the Olympic Peninsula, and the University of Washington.
Support for the project comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Preston, Gates and Ellis, LLP.