The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-08-14
Arch theological hints.

The time has not come to write n history Of the
orisin of the culture of the 50 called North
In eriean Indians were they one or many peO-
pies, offshoots of some primitive race. whose
fossilized remains are yet hidden from us. or the
IN ixed descendants of various savage races which
by accident or design. chanced in prehistoric
times to reach our shores. or the more reasona-
BILE theory Of this being the land of their origin,
wide continent diversified by every variety Of
climate and soil, equal in extent to any division
of the globe. 1t is much easier now for men of
science to assign their origin to the country and
lands where we find them. during the earliest
period of their history. Meanwhile supposing
such history will some day be written. it is now
in the power of very many to gather UP scores of
interesting and important facts. which will go
far to increase the sum of that knowledge which
is SO desirable
The object of this article is to point out how
much is lost to Us through careleSSneSS and a
want of IL right appreciation of the value of ap
parently insignificant objects. We can determine
but little. to be sure. by the relics of byGone
race if simply their weapons and domestic i'm
plements of stone or bone are at hand: By their
crania probably but little more. but we may rest
assured that it is necessary, when collecting, 10
be careful to gather up every thing, even the
fragments, if we would rightly read the riddle of
the uses to which many of their patterns of stone
implements were put, and this is one chapter by
no means complete in the history of our native
races.
have often insisted upon the Importance of
this care being exercised. and have been the more
impressed lately Of the necessity of so doing.
whenin examining n large local collection l was
struck by the absence of any rude. non-symetri
cal or imperfect specimens. when being assured
that such specimens did occur in abundance in
the neigh ghborhood, but had been left out as OF
little or no value. 10 study the archaeology
the country the necessary material was not in
the collection. As we'll might we attempt to
study the culture of people by examining sole
iy their jewels. Far better go to the neglected
relics still lying in the fields The collection gave
us but the fact that beauty of form and delicacy
of outline were sought after and not infrequently
obtained the neglected refuse told us the abun
dance and great variety of the aborigine's pos
sessions, showed us the amount of chipping that
would render pebble available for IA knife in
dicated how slight pecking Ofa marginal notch
on Hat pebble gave them an efficient net sinker
and the fragments of pottery told us of the range
| Of variation in the OrHamentatiOn common t.
| their ware. and the means employed to produc,
| it. Therefore. to all who are collecting an,
studying tho Archaeology o: any locality. W,
| would most earnestly suggest that you gather III
! the fragments. that nothing be lost.
| 1t is also imperatively necessary to note tn
circumstances under which specimens ara met
| Unless this is done. We may lose the impOrtan
fact with which this specimen is connected Fail
| ure to look closely when stray spear point o
axe occurs is often an opportunity passed by t.
| th.. nf a Inv uhnra
may be forms of implements. weapons and orna
ments wholly new to the collector.
| Nor is it OF less Importance to note the genera
| character of u locality Il hilltop
meadow, near stream or distant from runnn
| water. Searching for relics Of bygone races, yO
should look for such position a pleasant south
ern sunny outlook. as you would select for your
self it you had the permission; and where thu
stood the wigwam Of a savage centuries ago. W
may still find traces of its presence in some bro
ken pot. arrow point lost or discarded axe, o
toy OF some little child.
10 gather merely what simlpy pleases the eye
ignOrantly boarding objects to crafty a passin
fancy. is neither science nor sense. and all sue
material, often from unknown lOcalites-poss
bly, from groves. possibly fro IN the surface soil
is Of little value should it afterwards be gathere
into our museums.
Perhaps it will be said that such advice is onl
nesded where children are concerned. and to O
Ter it to the generality Of collectors is borderin
on insult. 1t must be borne in mind, howeve
that Archaeology differs in many respects frOl
! any and all branches Of Zoology, and while tn
material for their study is ever being reproduced
it is not so in the former case AS our materii
is limited. is it not we'll that we guard from il
norant destruction and molestatiOn that whic
we have?
So to the younger readers of this article VIII
in the years to come will engage in close studio
of the life that is and was about them, kind
offer the above sugg gestions. if happily they shou
feel an interest in preserving and studying IL
!. rapidly disappearing traces of an ancient peop
who. coming from we know not where. once o
cupied our shores. }. C. CATLIN.