The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-27
FOSSIL MAN TRACKS.

ences on the recent discovery of foot
prints in the sandstone of the yard OF
the Nevada State Prison. In the course
of this paper he said
1--WE find in the lowest strata, ex-
posed by the workmen, numerous fresh
water shells, which are chose of a mus
sci, of the genus 'Anodonta.' At an
elevation of thirteen feet above these is
found another strata in which, in addi-
ton to the shells of Anodonta, we find
species of Physa- This discovery is of
additional interest from the fact that
Clarence King reports that he found no
fresh-water shells in the region except
ing those of Planorbis. It should be
mentioned that the floor or area of the
yard we are now studying bears evil
dence of having been slightly tilted at a
period subsequent to its deposition. 1t
also gives evidence of having been at
one time the shore of some lake, or,
perhaps, pond, local and isolated as its
level was above that of Lake Lahontan.
Presumably we stand on the shore of
this ancient pond or lake, and as We
look about us we see the footprints of a
variety of animals, among which we
recognize those of the mammoth. the
deer, the wolf, those of many birds, APP
parently those of horse. and, most i'm
portant of all. what seems to be the inn
prints of the sandaled foot of man.
There are six series of the tracks of
man. Each of these series is represent
ed by a number of footprints (from eight
to seventeen) in regular order. and each
showing more or less plainly the i'm
print of q sandal. Besides this. in one
of the series there is marked differ
ence in the form of the sandal. The
first of these series which we examined
is to be seen emerging. as it were, from
the southern side of the yard. and where
the cliff is fifteen feet in height above
the tracks. This series consists of
twelve tracks, to which number four
were subsequently added by tunneling
into the rock. These tracks were evil
IDENTITY made in layer of sediment of
perhaps two inches in depth, for below
this layer we find the compact sand
stone. In each instance the mud had
been raised by the pressure of the foot
into ridge which entirely surrounded
It, This mud is only partially solidifed,
and is still iakey and easily broken on
exposure. Each of the imprints furnish
es us with evidence, as we believe, that
the feet of the one making the tracks
were protected by sandals.
lin no single impression. perhaps,
do we find conclusive evidence of this
fact, but when we study them as a
whole we find that that which is want
ing in one is furnished by others which
follow. In nearly all the toe portion of
the sandal is well shown. it being as
smooth as the work of mason for the
distance of two or three inches. Back
ward from the toe we generally find the
impression of the outer portion of the
sandal When studied as whole we
can determine with good deal of ex-
actness the actual length and breadth
of the sandal, which we find to be nine
teen inches in length, eight inches at
the ball of the foot, while the heel is
six inches in breadth. In its outline it
follows clearly the shape of the human
foot. From the great toe outward there
is really graceful curve, which draws
in toward the heel; while'from the great
toe inward the line is drawn toward the
instep, and thence in an onward curve
to the heel In one series this curve is
deeper. showing "a slightly different
form of sandal. The average length Of
the stride is two feet three inches. The
distance between the feet or the strad-
die is eighteen inches.
"1t seems very important to know if
there were more footprints of the same
series still running on into and under this
rock face. To determine this fact Mr..
Garrard, who was anxious to assist us
In every way possible, Immediately
commenced tunnel upon the line OF
the prints of the same series, if such ex-
isted. In this effort he was completely
successful, bringing to view four other
footprints, three of which were more
perfect than those watch had been pre-
viously exposed. One of the four,
owing to a fault of the rock, was too
obscure to be of value. OF this series
we secured twelve more or less perfect
casts in plaster.
Zone marked feature is that in all
OF these tracks the toes turn well OUT
ward. which is not as a rule the habit
oil the North American Indian. WitIsri
. few PAGES of the prints we have de-
scribed is to be found another series OF
tracks made by an individual who was
walking in deeper mud, which chung to
and closed in upon the foot. Seven OF
eight such are to be seen in regular
order. and then the track. like the one
previously described, is lost in the ledge
toward which the steps are tending.
Three of these are somewhat smaller
than the one described, while one has q
sandal more curved than that of his fell
lows These are lost in the ledge,
where they may be followed by future
explorations. These printsappear TO be
upon a floor a few inches lower than
the one first described.
Returning now to our first described
tracks, we find at distance of ten OF
twelve PAGES other tracks. which we
suppose to have been made by a nam,
moth They are in regular order and
eight In number, with an average stride
of four feet four and half inches. The
foot is twenty one inches in diameter
They were found imprinted on what Is
now pretty compact sandstone We
find no distinct traces of toes, but only
a general outline of the foot.
Besides the above described tracks
there were tracks of some wadin0 BIRDS,
as before mentioned. These did moi
seem to differ much in form and size
from those of the same order now living.
Several quite distinct tracks of deer are
also to be seen. Others, again, were
found which in size and length of stride
much resemble those of a wolf At one
point these tracks may be traced for q
distance Of twenty feet. where they also
are lost in the ledge. There are also 9
few poorly defined imprints OF what we
believe to be horse. Near the western
limit we find clear indications of animals
having wallowed and lain in the soft
mud.
There have been, We believe, but