Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-10-16

Mon mathematical Deposit on
Marias sRiver-Tradition OF the
Mammoth Remains of Mann
moth Found in Various
Places.
In this first part Of this essay, | started
upon the remains found in Pricl11y Pear
canyon. Sun river &c, and the various
stone implements found there. | alluded
to the material of which the implements
are made, viz: Obsidian, ChaIcedony.
Jasper, Quartz, and Agate, all of these
materials being foreign to this locality.
Prof. Joseph Leidy in the {. S geological
their stone arrow deads - which were in
such universal use before the introduction
of iron. In the Bridger basin, South
Wyoming, he discovered a region where
the different kinds of stone abounded, that
were required for the purpose. He seems
to have struck their workshops, the ground
being literally covered with spals Of stone
arrow-heads finished and unfinished, be
sides other articles more or less Clipped
The Shoshones and other tribes regard
this deposit as gift of God to their an
cestors. Possibly this is the original local
ity from which our Montana specimens
came FROM
Turning now to other localities, we find
other remains unique and interesting, but
of a different character.-On Silver creek,
a few years ago, some miners while sluc-
ing, picked up a copper knife blade Of IA
shape different from those manufactured by
the Whites; it bore all the marks of ex-
treme old age, and under the conditions
in which it was found must have laid be-
meath the surface. On Surprise creek (at
the head of Arrow creek) in similar
manner, a gentleman Of that locality, while
examining one of the stone circles in that
vicinity, found a copper spear-head about
four inches i'll length, sticking in the
ground on the outer edge.
These last two discoveries, therefore. /
give rise to the questions whether they do
not pertain to the Aztec race, which are
known to have reached the 500 north |
latitude, Or some race that were in affinity |
with them. We know that chemical as
says have proved this copper (by the pres
ence Of native silver in it, to have come
from the Lake Superior region. This is q
very interesting subject, and when minute
exploration is made Of the innumerable
stone circles found in the valleys, and our
prairies; and the mounds examined
(many Of which are known, but not ex-
plored) a flood Of light will be thrown on
this subject; as we may expect to find
articles both Of domestic use, and Of war
fare.
A very interesting place, unique in its
position, and never yet explored, is in the
canyon Of the Marias about twelve miles
above its mouth. The river is very tortu-
Gus il that locality, and at one place it has
made cut bank about fourteen feet in
height. On the ground above the cut bank !
here grow If not cut down now cotton I
wood trees eight or ten inches in diameter +
At the base Of the cut bank in low water, :
an be seen stratum of peices Of pottery, {
,harcoa1, and fragments Of various des- )
,rlptlon, including stone arrow points. How 4
Id these remains are, it is hard to tell,
'ut certainly fourteen feet Of soil, with
arge trees on top, cannot be Of very recent
late; the connection Of pottery with these
emains, would make it a very interesting
pot for exploration.
/ could mention many other places in
Northern Montana, which on research .
.ou1d be found to have remains similar to 2
hat | have described. The difficulty a
ow is, with our imperfect knowledge to b
x the exact period Of the copper nipple n
tents, with those Of stone. Many persons q
OF thoroughly conversant on the subject, II
hight think the stone age existed all over q,
le continent at the same period. This is NJ
ot 50, however, as Cortez found the Aztecs r
sing both copper and stone implements; Il,
I'd similarly to-day, some Indians of the r
orth West Territory are using iron arrow x
oints, while some Of the AIents, and the n
lbes Of Terra del Fuego are vet in the p
one age. Before the colonists arrived.