The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-12-31
Interesting Discovery of Ancient Pottery
in st. Francois County, Mo.

" ltlltltSltu III llilI'ItiliI'l L IL
searches, says the st. Louis Republican
Of the I'D, will find matter for specula-
ton in some curious relics deposited on
Monday in the Centennial case in the
rotunda of the Southern Hotel. The
relics consist of numerous specimens OF
aboriginal pottery, arrow-heads, nipple
ments of stones for dressing skins, etc.
The pottery is particularly worthy of
note, as it belongs to a period dating
anterior to the modern Indians-sup-
posed by some to belong to that myth
cal period known to ethnologiStS as the
stone period, while the arrow-heads and
stone axes are common to Il quite re-
cent period, and are found strcwn all
over the continent. The pottery was
found in the ancient tumuli about two
and Il half miles from Pennington, in
St. Francois County. They consist
principally of drinking-ycsscls made of
baked clay, and are in general gourd-
shaped, with the neck extending out
straight from the center of the glObular
vessel. The head of the upright neck is
frequently capped with the rude head
of the fox or other wild animal, forming
4 very correct likeness. One Of the YES
sells represents a bird, standing III its
legs, the body forming Il capacious vs-
sci for the holding of water, with the
tail on 4 level with the claws, and as
Sistin@ in keeping the vessel upright.
The vessels are of various sizes, from
eight inches in diameter cross the
swell of the globe down to Il miniature
pot the size of a modern Salt-ccllar. In
one of these vessels was found Il Speci-
men of calc-hyhen spar, and in another
4 fragment of Il quartz crystal. The
larger vessel, which is a very perfect
oblate spheroid, is surrounded with col
ored Zig-zag bands tinted with blue, ver-
million and white, but whetherthe cClors
are inbcddcd in the material or put on
with a brush is uncertain, though ON
casual inspection the former conjecture
seems to he the true one. Besides the
drinking dishes, there are some shallow
vessels resembling the chemists cyap-
Grating dish, and also Il small spoon,
silicified, with the bowl adapted to 4
capaciouS mouth, and with Il very short
handle. There are also numerous frag-
ments of pottery. Among others Il flat
tened stone, rOughened on one side with
@eomctrical lines, and said to be Il piece
of Il coffin found in the tumuli. The
person who was digging in the locality
struck two inclined stones, and keeping
on with his work ut length came to Il
stone slab, and on removing the slab
found underneath Il stone coffin. The
coffin was filled with sand, but having
nothing but a grubbing hoe as fast as
he hauled out the sand the everything
dirt tumbled down and ~interrupting his
work he became discouraged and re-
placing the slab, and shoveling on the
dirt allowed the old mummy, whose
liINl VI IIlC WIZ tlillilN Nv ltoJ "
him to sleep away until some future eX-
plorer resurrects him. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that these examinations are not
made by persons qualified to make a
note Of the associated relics, their exact
position, and other data with a view of
determining and settling the question
of their origin. Otherwise they are
comparatively worthless, except as OBJ
jects of curiosity. 1t is said that many
of these remains are found very plenti-
fully throughout Southeast Missouri,
particularly near Ste. Genevieve and in
Scott County. In fact these yestiges of
a once numerous and powerful race are
traceable from the rude Notifications of
Canada and Northern New York to the
extensive rivers of Central America.
But according to Prof. Gage, who ex-
amined the specimens at the Southern
yesterday, all the Peruvian type of pot
terry found on the continent of North
America are confined to the Mississippi
Valley. The specimens referred to were
brought up by Capt. A. l.. Whitley OF
St. Louis, who is acting as a volunteer
agent for the Centennial.
STATISTICS show that from 1858 to
1871, wages in France went up more
than 40 per cent; while of the masters
80 per cent were originally workmen,
and 10 per cent. the sons of workmen.
SOUTHERN HOTEL, ST LOUIS,
First class in all respects. Prices graded,
$500, $3.50, $40 and a. 80 per day, accord
ing to room and location Of room. Telegraph
and railroad offices in Hotel Building.