Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-05-25
WORK OF PREHISTORIC MAN.
Remarkable Relics of an Ancient Civil
ration in California

Remarkabie keitcs OF an Ancient Civtu-
sation 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
skillful arts practiced by the 80 called
Ignorant savages" that once inhabited
this land. which. by forcibly dispossessing
them, we now inhabit. unless, perhaps,
some more civilized race possessed this
country prior to its discovery by Christie
pher Columbus. whose tribe has long
since been exterminated and whose record
is lost. One of the most wonderful 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 undoubted
ly built thousands of years ago. as these
blocks and indications can be traced for
miles along the mountain 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
miles from where they are now situated
powerful mode of conveyance, as well as
powerful machinery to shape and locate
them.
To these ancient people also was known
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, as well as
on the Pacific slope, and while the chemist
has no difficulty in removing the temper,
yet he cannot return it. For the redis-
covery of this temperipg process scientists
and chemists have bod. and the
United States government 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
of c. R. Brumley, can be seen what is
known as the painted Rock" This
rock is in horseshoe shape, about eighty
fee. high and 1000 feet in circumfer-
ence. The inside being followed out
gives it the appearance of natural fort,
which has frequently been used by stock
men as sheep corral. and is capable Of
holding comfortably 5000 head of sheep.
The inside walls on the south are very
abrupt and overhanging, and are COW
cred with many ancient paintings,
roughly resembling sketches of men,
dogs, snakes. lizards, tortoises and vari-
Gus characters. the significance of which
was. perhaps, even unknown to the
painter. So we are inclined to think
that each character is a record of some
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.
In the western part Of this county, at
the outlet of the Antelope valley, on the
Tulare plhins, is what is called the
Point of Rocks" On top of the most
prominent of these rocks is large
beautiful water tank about feet deep
and 90 feet long by 12 feet wide. Its
capacity is between 1000 and 5000 gal
Ions of water and although evidently it
has been formed by nature. still, Judging
by its location being such as to catch all
the rain water that falls to the surface
one can 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
chiseled into it. is no difficult task to as
cend and return with a pail of water
From on top of the rock one has mag
nifcent view of the surrounding country
for miles and miles. There being no
other water for long distance makes it
a 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 pestles are found in
various places Some are made very
roughly and others are shaped out of a
fine quality of stone with elegant taste.
Marvellous skill is displayed in the art of
making arrow heads and knives Of the
hardest flint. How they can give a de-
sired shape to so brittle a substance by
chipping of bits is easier to think about
than to accomplish. Bakersfield
(Cal.) Echo.