The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-17
Amt for the ArchaeOIOgists.

From the New York Times, February III
Since the result Of Governor Army 8
explorations in New Mexico were made
public, there has been no discovery OF
more interest to the American archeol-
ogist than the one alleged to have been
made recently in Iowa, on the line of the
projected Dubuque d Minnesota rail-
road. The workmen, while engaged IN
excavating for the road in the limestone
at the foot of bluff, are said to have
come upon flat stone covered with
strange characters. This being re-
moved, opened the way into a passage
about four feet wide and six feet high,
leading directly into the heart OF the
bluff. At the distance of about fifty
feet from the entrance another stone,
similar to the first, had to be removed,
when large chamber revealed itself,
cut out of the solid rock, about twenty
five feet square and twenty feet high.
The floor was hard and smooth, while
the walls and roof were carved In sort
of JaSso-relie0o, with figures Of birds,
trees, stars, serpents and chariots. The
south wall was adorned with a repre-
sentatlon Of the sun, and Immediately
below this the figure OF a man IN the act
of stepping out Of boat, and holding
in his hand dove.
So far, the revelations were not very
different from many previous ones IN
similar caves and rock-chambers
throughout our Western country. But
the most curious part Of the discovery
was vet to come, and one that would 60
far to support the theory OF; many
savantS with regard to the physical
degeneration of the race. A flat slab
in the floor Of the cavern being raised,
revealed below vault filled with
skeletons of unusual SIZE the largest
being seven feet eight inches high by
actual. measurement. BY the side OF
each skeleton was set small vase
filed with yellow earth, beneath which
were found animal bones and particles
of animal matter. The skeletons were
placed in a semi-circlc toward the south
west
Who this los, and unknown race Of
giants can have been we leave IT to our
antiouaries to con lecture. Perhaps
thew were branch of that mysterious
and cultivated people whom the Aztecs
are said to have swept away and
DESTROYED in their great hegira to the
plains of Mexico. Or they may have
been related to the great stock Of the
Natchez, which once held sway all
along the Mississippi. The figured sun
on the walls OF the rock chamber
would indicate that they wor-
SHIPPED that luminary, and the
representation Of a man with
a dove, stepping out Of boat may be
an alusion to that tradition OF the
deluge which, in one form or another,
all our aboriginal people have been
found to hold. But to whatever fam
ily this forgotten race may have be-
longed, it is certain that they had at
tanned higher degree Of civilization
than was reached 10y those who came
after them. In the fingers OF the
largest skeleton was clasped pearl
ornament, and traces OF cloth were found
crumbl,d at the feet of the remains
What is still more important and curl,
Gus. many copper Implements were
found, thus seeming to snow that the
Lake Superior mines had been worked
at a very early period.
If the accounts We have received of
this remarkable cave are strictly true,
investigation may derive from it impor-
tant additions to our stock of knowl-
edge regarding the primitive races OF
this continent, and we are gladt to know
that the remains are to be removed to
the Iowa Institute Of Arts and Sciences
! nj Dubuque