in modern stone cutting. From unfinished pieces in collections and the fine examples unearthed by Smith,[1] it appears that the final separation of the block was by fracture produced by wedging.
As to drilling and perforating, our data are less complete. Soft stones, like slate, were drilled with stone points. By experimental
Fig. 56. Pieces of Nephrite Showing the Method of Cutting and Breaking. Smith, H. I., 1899. I
methods Rau[2] has reconstructed the process of drilling with a hollow reed and sand, which accounts for the unfinished borings with attached cores we sometimes find in museums. Again, the Nootka[3] made large perforations by pecking. First, a pit was formed in the stone to be perforated, into which a hard pebble was laid and pounded upon until the hole reached the middle; then the stone was inverted and the process repeated.
