The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-06-21
WORK OF PREHISTORIC MAN.
REMARKABLE RELICS OF AN ANCIENT CTvILr.
ZATION In CALIFORNIA.

In many parts along the coast and in
/ Mexico can still be seen relics and re-.
markable evidence of some Of the most
| shillful arts practiced by the so called
| ignorant savages" that once inhabited
| this land, which. by forcibly dispossess-
| ing them, we now inhabit, unless, Ger
| haps, some more civilized race possessed
/ this country prior to its discovery by
| Christopher Columbus, whose tribe has
l long since been extermnated aud whose
| record is lost. One OF the most wonder
| ful Of these relics is the indication of a
/ solid pavement road In Arizona. made of
| granite blocks or slabs about ten feet
| long, hewn square, conveyed and placed
side by side by some means unknown to
/ the spectator.
! This pavement or road was undoRbt-
| edly built thousands Of years ago as
these blocks and indications can be
traced for miles along the mountains
| sides, through which deep canyons have
/ washed their way. Some OF these slabs
are said to weigh nearly two tons, and
! there being no granite lodges nearer
| than several niles from where they are
now situated indicates that they must
| have bad some powerful mode OF con
| veyance, SIS well as powerful machinery
to shape and locate them.
To these ancient people also was
! known a process OF tempering brass so it
could be converted into tools equal to
! the best of steel. Numerous specimens
Of this tempered brass have been found
where the city of Mexico now stands. SIS
| well as on the Pacific slope, and while
| the chemist has no difficulty III removing
| the temper, yet he cannot return it.
| Fer the rediscovery of this tempering
! process scientists and chemists have la
| bored, and the United States govern
ment has offered premium in vain.
| Nor can they even by having tempered
metal before them gain the least light
on the subject.
Bringing the discourse a little nearer
home, on the edge Of the Carisa plains,
but short distance from the stock ranch
or Z. Il. BruIlIey, can be seen what is
known as the painted Rock" This
| rock Is IN horseshoe shape, about eighty
feet high and 1000 feet IN circumfer-
ence. The inside being followed out
| gives it the appearance of a natural fort,
which has frequently been used by stock
men as sheep corral, and is capable of
| holding comfortably 1900 head of
sheep. The inside walls on the south
are very abrupt and overhanging, and
are covered with many ancient paintings,
roughly resembling sketches OF men,
dogs, snakes, lizards, tortoises aud vari.
Gus characters, the significance of which
was, perhaps, even unknown TO the
painter. So we are inclined to think
NJ al, f.la trn g
historical event, and that, if we but I'M
! derstood them. they would be very inter
esting to us. The paints used are of
three distinct colors-red, white and
black. And, although we know nothing
Of their mode of manufacture or mate
rails used, we can say this much, that
they have a power Of durability and OF
retaining their color unsurpassed by
| modern productions.
La the western part of this country, at
the outlet of the Antelope valley,
on the Iulare plains, is what is called
the ''POint of Rocks" On the top of
the most prominent of these rocks is a
large, beautiful water tank about 7 feet
deep and 20 feet long by II feet wide.
Its capacity Is between 1000 and 5000
gallons OF water, and although evidently
1t has been formed 10y nature, still, iudg
ing by its location being such as to catch
ali the rain water that falls to the sur
face, one car be led to believe that it
was human art and design. The height
Of the rock is about 100 feet and its
walls are quite steep, but by the aid of
steps chjseled into it, is no difficult task to
ascend and return with a pail of water.
From on top of the rock one has a mag
niticent view of the surrounding country
for miles and miles. There being no
other water for a long distance makes it
g very. convenient resort for stOckmen
and travellers. On adjoining rocks can
be found great many similar tanks; also
two small ancient paintings. Scores of
mortars and pesties are found III various
places. Some are made very roughly
and others are shaped out of fine
quality of stone with elegant taste.
Marvellous skill is displayed in the art of
making arrows heads and knives Of
the hardest flint. How they can give
a desired shape to so brittle a substance
by chipping off bits is easier to think
about than to accomplish.