Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-07-23
CAVE-DWELlERS.
Some Relics Recently Found In Southern
California.

- CAvE.DWEIlERS. fsa
Some Relics Recently Found In Southern
California.
Some time since the editor visited
cave in the San Martin Mountains, Los
Angeles County, which contained some
interesting Indian relics. 1t is IN
wild. rugged, and picturesque region.
and the cave, which is L 400 feet above
the sea-level, situated on the south side
of steep mountain, is difficult of ac-
cess. 1t is natural grotto in some
what friable rock, composed largely OF
small. petrified oyster-shells, most like
ly of pliocene origin. The excavation
is about twelve feet deep and sixteen
feet long, and not sufficiently high for
one to stand upright. The bottom was
covered with sand, caused by the disin-
tegration of portions of the roof and
surrounding walls. 5s
In this cavern were deposited nine
baskets manufactured from tule and
varying in size from six to twenty
inches in diameter. With the exception
of the smallest basket, which was found
inside of a larger one, each was covered
with a neatly fitted cap woven from the
same material, and each basket stood
on a mat of the same. Three or four
of the baskets were in good state of
preservation. while the others were
askew or had been gnawed by wood
rats. which are abundant in this section
and had constructed large nest in the
cave. 8.
One of these baskets contained four
teen notched sticks an eighth of an
inch thick from one to two inches
wide, and from ten to. fourteen inches
in length. These sticks have been
painted, some crosswise and others
lengthwise. with streaks of red and
probably blue paint 1t is most probable
that they were used for chronological
purposes, each notch indicating moon
or other specific period. Some of the
sticks have as many as one hundred
notches. They are made of redwood,
and are perforated at each end.
Another Observation-Disclosures three
head-dresses of birds feather. The
wing and tail feathers of variety of
birds have been. used. but the flicker
(Colaptes chrysoides) predominates.
They were made by tapping the quill
ends and sewing them together, after
which the feathers were alternated
until the desired length was obtained.
These dresses are from five or SIX
inches to nearly foot in width, and
from two to five feet in length. Some
are plain white, while others are more
ornamental, being made of different
colored feathers.
In another basket was found forty
five whistles made from the tibie of
the deer, about ten inches in length.
One end had been cut off and the bone
dressed down, forming a mouthpiece,
after which the cellular portion of the
bone had been removed and lateral
opening made about three-siXteenths
of an inch IN diameter, opposite hch
asphaltum had been placed in such a
manner as to cause the instrument to
emit one Or more sounds when the OPP
orator blew in the end. These bones
had been wrapped with bark, OIL some
other pliable substance, and a mass of
asphaltum fastened on the larger end,
into which was imbedded small piece
of haliot;s she'll.
But still more interesting specimens
were found in another basket. These
consisted of four perforated stone disks,
or hammers, containing handles. The
disks are probably serpentine, ana
measure from four to five and half
inches in diameter. The sides have
been reamed. in the usual method of
perforated disks, leaving the hole much
smaller at the center. The handles are
of toyon, or bearberry, which is
amongst the hardest woods in South
ern California, and are thirteen to sew
enteen inches in length. The handles
are set little slanting to the base, or
fiat side of the disk, and are fastened
with an asphaltum cement. Two of
the disks still retain paint markings.
For what purpose they were intended
is not quite clear to us. If
for hammers. they are the only
ones of the kind of which we
have heard in this country. The usual
method of fastening the handle is by
groove and withe. and not by drilling
a hole through the Implement. We are
inclined to the opinion that these were
used as implements of war, or were
used in religious rites. But whatever
may have been their use they are
unique, as far as we know.
In excavating the bottom of the cave
we found considerable basket-work, as
though it had been covered with this
material A wedge was found made of
the base of deer's antler, four and
one-half inches long by one and three
eighth inches in diameter, wrapped Sc
curely at the larger end with some kind
of cord to prevent splitting when in
use. Also a haliotis shell (Haliotis
crasherodiD having the holes filled
with a cord, and used. probably, for a
drinking cup. A shell ornament and
portions of deer's antlers, and a SER
pentine instrument for smoothing and
Strengthening the tules for their basket
work. were also found. The cave bears
no evidences of having been used for a
place of residence, but simply as a de-
posit for these specimens. most or all
of which have doubtless been used in
their dances and religious rites and
ceremonies. How long these specimens
have remained in the cave it is difficult
to determine. Being perfectly dry,
and beyond the reach of rain or sun
shine, they would remain for great
length of time without decay Ventura
(Cak) Free Press. H.,
HOME-BUILDlNG.