The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-15
PREHISTORIC REMAINS.
Some of the Wonderful Discoveries
on this Hemisphere.
From Me Ne0 York Times.

Oh JAAA5 A4SlHlSphSEo.
From the Ne,g York Times
At the meeting of the Academy of
Anthropology yesterday Gen. Charles W.
Darling of Utica read portion of very
comprehensive paper on 1.-THE Prehistoric
Archaeology of America Starting with
California, which is exceedingly rich in pre-
historic remains, he gave an account Of the
discoveries in that state, in Mexico in some
of the states in the Mississippi valley, and
in Central America.
Though it is not usual to 60 further back
than to the glacial epoch 20 determine the
age of man, Gen. Darling said, mau ap-
peared to be present in California during a
portion of this period. Remains had been
| found beneath tablets of lava erupted in
| the plocene epoch. His existence at this
period had been disputed, but Ii was GER
tainly true that he existed during the life
| of races of animals now extinct The pre-
historic man lived, built mounds, wrought
implements and left behind records that
cannot be deciphered. There is reason to
suppose that this was i'll the very remote
past. The opinion is held by DR.. Thompson
and others tina the time will come when,
perhaps, by aid of the ancient learning Of
the east, the records can be read. Az yet,
however, the riddle Of the prehistoric race
| in America is unsolved.
One Of the most remarkable monuments
found, Gen. Darling said, is in San Luis
Obispo county, Southern California. A
great rock rises $50 feet above the plain of
Carissa, and in the distance looks rugged
and forbidding. On near approach 1t is
seen to have on its eastern side an opening
| 25 feet broad, which leads into an inner
temple or court, with level floor 22j feet
| long and 125 feet broad at its widest part.
| The ceiling is 90 to 100 feet high. This great
natural cathedral is "a wonder to biologists,
but it is more wonderful to arch@ologists.
1t was evidently used by prehistoric
men as a temple of worship or a capitol of
| government. On the walls are paintings
| in red, white and black doubtless having
q meaning There are figures represent
ing fields, suns, forts, spears, mon, and ami
mails. The colors are apparently as bright
as when laid on. The wonder was discoy-
cred by FRANCISCAN missionaries 100 years
ago, and there has been no change in its
| appearance since. When or by whom the
| walls we're decorated no one knows. The
| Indian tribes had no tradition concerning
| the work and regarded it with superstitious
reverence. A part of the land Of the Plain
of Carissa belongs TO the government. The
Atlantic and Pacific railroad land grant
| touches it. Until recently the plain was
| freduented by wild horses, but now the
/
shepherds. Four thousand sheep can find
protection from the storm at once.
Gen. Darling discussedthe buried cities
of New Mexico. of which there are many,
and the prehistoric remains in Contra
America In Yucatan alone sixty-sever
prehistoric cities have been found, though
the obstacle presented by climate and saw
age people make travel in that country
nearly impossible. The conclusion was that
the remains in all the southwest we're Older
than the Aztecs. The older civilization was
in many ways remarkable. Ruined citie'
we're found in Mexico, including great pal
aces Of hewn stone 800 to 400 feet in dimen-
sions. They contained sculptured ornamenti
in bas-reief. Skulls were found that, IL
their cranial character, were equal Of
superior to the average modern race. The
general named many wonderful thing
discovered in Nicaragua. Brazil, and Peru
One monument indicated that ship wa
wrecked on the South American coast will
subjects of Alexander the Great. Skull
were found that showed that the art o.
trephining was known and practiced in