Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-21
A LONG EXTINCT PEOPLE
JEWELLERS IN THE CAVERNS OF
THE FAR WESTERN CANYONS.
The Discoveries Made by . Colorado kx-
piorsr Tn the Valley Of tbs NAneos
Rly.r-Prehi.forfe sknils Of Peculiar
FormAtios-A Remarkable Coiieeti"u-

The Discoveries Made Dy toiofAho Il
p,orer In the Valley Of tbs Mancos
River Prehi.foric skniIs of P~culiAr
rormatf.s-A Remarkable Collection
From the earliest ages Of the past there
speak. today in the collection d relics found
within the newly formed county Of Monreza-
ma. living about ifty-hve miles southwest OF
Durango in the state Of Colorado, world
OF knoWied,e, silent thdagh the objects De-
Of people who there dwelt, more, says
Mr. Cushing than 900 vears ago.
The 'cLUy DwELLgEs"
The borders Of this wonderland are found
BY following down the Names valley 10 the
Manoos river which for about twenty-five
miles COWS through a veritable city Of ruins
From the valley through which this river
fows diverge six canyons, and all along their
steep and rocky SIDES for the entire distance,
and more ESPECIALLY in the amphitheatre
formed 1T the terminus Of each OF them, are
found ths. ,11rioalsiy formed dwellings which
are built in the excavations made in the walls
Of the cAnyous How they were formed
must ever remain conjectural, save that the
elements have worn them smooth and with
marvellous degre Of uniformity.
One of these dwellings aid Mr.. Nc
LLOYD. was at the front or perpendicular
face four stories in height, gradually sioping
from tOprnost point to the rear at an angle Of
about - degs This space was once unques-
ti0nabiy Allied with "a house constructed Of
stone masonry, which ~as provided with
wooden timbers much in the usual form used
in modern dwellings. Three stories Of the
crude masonry Of this HOUSE yet remain
Ia thu. house much Of the priceless treasure
secured by Mr. McLoyd was found In the
4
welgs formed Of the slanting roof Of solid
stone and the level floor of the dwelling, and
sraled conplste with masonry work, were
found the perfect skeletons Of two infants,
wound about with a peculiar fabric to which
the nauie q feather cloth" has been given,
owing 10 the fact that it is formed of feathers
wound about separate strands Of peculiar
Irvine formed Of some vegetable lint, and
these strings or cords then woven or pleated
closely together 50 as to form a perfect piece
Of cloth
First wrapping Of this fabric 50 soft and
fine that the down alone is felt when exam
med, rs flexible As a piece Of silk. A coarser
wrapping is over this, another and another
still until the final and outer one, which Is
formed Of thin Stats II polished wood and
and held together by "A cord in a manner
much resembling the ordinary Venetian win
dow shade The houses are Of all forms and
sizes, from the one above described down to
that Of one small room.
The collection OF skulls Is very large and
vary in size and in form, two distinct races
being evidenced by the formation of the
skulls Those found in the cliff dwellings in
almost every instance being IN rooms sealed
up entire with work OF masonry, and evil
IDENTIFY the cliff jewellers" had skull Sc
shaped that the oval or rear extended portion
Of the head Is totally lacking, the organs Of
'philoprogeuitiveness as the phrenologists
would term H. being entirely absent, and tins
Is cited by some as "A reason for the extinction
Of the race IN other words, the line is per
fectly straight perpendicular. Another class
Of skulls, found only on the river bottoms are
fiat On the real and upper portion Of the head
slantIng on "a uniform line from the upper
portion II the forehead 10 the rear as though
some uniform pressure had been brought TO
bear upon them. These skulls are low and
broad the lateral portions Of the head being
full and currespondingly low, showing much
Of the bulldog quality IN structural form.
Hundreds Il bone Instruments OF almost
every observable form possible into which
they could be worked are here exhibited,
most, If not all Of them. being edged instru-
ments a perfect drawing knife knife
/ blades avis needles with eyes In some OF
which the threads for sewing yet remain, and
/ many instruments, the probable Use of which
/ could not lee nscertaincd from their form.
| Leather goods Of various textures from the
soft aud perfectly tanred buckskin 10 Others
~ tine and piable as it would be possible to
! produce by any method known today.
/ Sandals formed of the skins of animals and
woven from the fiber Of the soap weed, with