The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-07
EARLY MAN IN AMERICA.
Prof Putnam Concludes that He has
Been Here Ton Thousand
Years,
What Became Of the Early Man
and What His Intertribal
Relations.
rhres Crania In the Museum, Found 1t
TreAton--The Name Indian .
Misnomer.

The considerable series Of Clipped stone
implements from the gravel beds in New
Jersey, Delaware, Ohio and Indiana, and
Esom q certain deposit in Minnesota, give
conclusive evidence that man existed pre-
P1ous to the deposition Of these beds, says
The New York Commercial. The series Of
photographs and drawings placed with these
Epecimsns give good representations Of the
deposits in which tho implements were
Found, and these deposits, the geologists
k;ell us, are of glacial origin, but in some
bases modified by the flow Of water from the
melting ice north Of the terminal moraine.
There is, therefore, no reason to doubt that
The rude stone implements found all the
Way from the surface Of these deposits to q
depth Of 80 feet, are Of the same age a. the
bed from which they were taken. The
Trenton gravel, which 10 the youngest Of
The series, is the source Of the greater
humber Of implements. as shown by the
Abbott collection. This Trenton gravel
ests upon another gravel deposit which is
regarded by all biologists as immensely
barrier in time than the Trenton; and yet
this earlier or Columbia gravel; as it has
Deen designated by Mr.. MCGEE, there have
been found by Abbott in New Jersey and
Jresson in Delaware several implements
which give us the evidence of still greater
antiquity for man. The Trenton gravel we
nay now regard as the second epoch in the
history of man in the pal@olithic age.
Leaving ont of consideration all other
acts relating to the antiquity Of man in
america, We have here the evidence that
nan occupied large portion of the conti-
rent south Of the great terminal moFaine.
Il . time when the glacial region north
Fard was under Arctic conditions. This
biologists az certainly 5000 to 10000 years,
ince his implements were buried BY the
most recept Of these deposits in the Della
rare vap and of many thousand years
arlier if the chronology Of the older grav-
ls is correctly determined.
At all events, we have considerable
period Of time through which we must trace
ince he was contemporary OF the mann
moth and the mastodon, and was hunting
he reindeer in the valley of the Delaware.
What became of this early man, and
THAT were his relations with other races are
Interesting problems which may in time be
|olved, and the collections in the museum
ire of the greatest importance in this con-
lection. In the Abbott, Cresson and Look
Food collections there is much which shows
hat this interglacial, if not preRlacial, man
advanced in his arts as the ice retreated
orthward, and that he learned to fashion
Implements Of delicate character by flax
ng pieces Of areillite SO as to form knives,
pear points and p obably arrow heads, of
Fhich implements there are several thous-
Ind specimens IN these collections.
These faxed implements of argillite were
ound under such conditions that they
mark more recent period than the palas-
|lithic implements buried in the gravel. and
Fet are far older than the occupation Of the
legion by the ancestors of the Indians
the latter are principally Of jasper, ebert
nd quartz, and largely of different forms
rom those of argillite. They are, more
yer, seldom associated with the argillite
oints found beneath the black soil, but
ever in tho gravel. This is we'll shown by
caring his name in the museum. Similar
acts are shown beyond question by the i'm
lements found in the different layers of
ock shelter, as exhibited in tho Cresson
ollection.
'eThe three periods of occupation of the
Delaware valley are now well established,
nd are designated as the pal@olithic or the
gdest, the sked agillite or middle, and the
hsper, or ian.
There are three human crania in the mu-
eum which were found in the gravel at
renton, one several feet below the surface
nd the others near the surface. These
kulls, which are of remarkable uniformity,
re- of small size and of oval shape, differ.
be from all other skulls in the museum.
fact. they are of distinct type, and
once of the greatest Importance. So far
they go they indicate that. palae-
ithic man WAS exterminated, or has be-
bme lost by admixture with others during
be many thousand years that have passed
nee he inhabited the Delaware valley.
Time will not permit of an extended re-
ew of all the evidence that could DO taken
ON the collections in the museum relat-
hR to the several distinct races or varieties
hich have inhabited North America. A
Fief statement of conclusions must there
re suffice.
An examination of the different collec-
ons will show that dilichocephalic race,
hich is known as the Esqniman, extends
ross the northern portion Of the conti-
hnt. While this race has marked peculiar
es in physical features, which are shown
part BY their skeletons. and also in their
to and language, they have much in COM
on with the dolichocephalio people adj
lining them on the south, and it may be
at the TWO are varieties or branches OF q
mmon stock both Of which would have
Ixed with palBolithic man during the ar
lite period. The Esquimau branch of
is race seems to have been driven north
ID to have become greatly modified by the
ndltions of existence; while the other. in
ne, extended down both coasts of the con-
hent and somewhat into the interior. The
|scendants of this branch we know as the
brthern and eastern Indians.
Another race, distinct in many ways from
e long-heade of the north. particularly in
ing brachycephalic people, seems to
We entered America ON the Pacific side,
nowhere between Mexico and Peru, and
have sent it's branches north and south.
he greatest development of this short
AIDED race was in Mexico. Central Amer
and the coast portions of northern
nth America as far as Peru. Its brynches,
viewer, attained considerable sN,velop-
mt east of Mexico, as in the old Pueblo
ZION, and AZ the ancient earthWork build
OF the Ohio valley and the region south
the gulf. In the descendants Of the
Inches of this short-headed race we have
Central Americans, the Mexicans, some
the Pueblo nations and large element
the southern tribes.
n relation to the Garth stock of the
est Indies and northern Atlantic coast of
nth America, the material in the museum
loo Meagre to permit of any conclusions
eept that it probably became iAelnded In
mixture of some of the aouthorn tribes.
Thus thsre are the following A1emepts 70
taken into consideration in any ondeay-
to trace the present North American
bes and nations back to their origin: ~
all oval-headed paleolithio man. ~
lone.headed Esquimau. ~ The