The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-08
RELICS OF THE STONE AGE.
An Important Archaeological Discovery
Made Recently on Marblehead Rock.


Marblehead rock, with its black-and-
white beacon, constructed partly OF
stone and partly of wood, is as familiar
to yachtsmen and north-shore navlga-
tors as any object along the coast, says
the Boston Herald. 1t bears southeast
by east half south from Marblehead
lighthouse, aud is distant One-fourth
of mile. There is clear middle pass
age with five fathoms of water between
it and the point of Marblehead great
neck, sometimes called Nanepashemet'
This precipitous mass of rock, rising
above the ever-restless water surround
ing it, and containing, including the
western half, about four acres of sur
face, is unquestionably of volcanic
origin, if not the three-chimneyed era
ter of an active volcano in past cons.
Vitrified rock, volcano ashes, both
hardened and unhardened, with traces
of lava flow and the mixing of the COM
ponent parts into remarkable con-
glomerate, show abundant traces of
intense fiery action. Near the summit
are three deep depressions, which, if
not craters, must have been formed
when the entire mass of rock was IN
a very soft or molten condition; the
northeasterly one of these is now the
bed of pond, about 25 feet in diameter,
1-2 feet deep, with an overflow through
| a seam
The second impression is larger and
deeper than the others, supporting a
swampy growth of bushes above its
thick mud. The crater nearest the
summit is from to II feet above the
others, 90 feet in circumference, and
somewhat sheltered from the easterly
gales by the rocky crown on which
stands the beacon. This crater is filled
with comparatively dry earth, whose
surface is level and covered with sod
of golden rod. ivy, woodbine, and 9TH
er plant roots, with the undecayine
heart of red cedar roots, which must
have flourished there very long time
ago.
During the early days of autumn
Capt. j. II. Carter, a summer resident
at the Meek" discovered here many
evidences of prehistoric occupation
and the removal of the entire sod anC
earth to depth of two feet disclosed
the sight of workshop, where human
industry had prospered at the hands o
the people of the stone age. Thei1
rude implements, fashioned for wa
or chase, after rest of untold cen
turies, were again brought to the ligh
of day.
The earth-stained and corroded con
dition of many of the articles proveC
conclusively that this had been a work
ing-place for the ancient people through
J long generations. Deepest in the cart
/ were numerous large and very rud
] spear-heads, which had become sof
and chalky on their exterior surfac
through age, while some, which wer
e accidentally broken by blows from tn
r pick-ax, showed the interior wall c
D the sparkling feldsite crystals, and a
o hard and fiinty as ever. Here wer
8 found great stores of unused hammere
: stones, which had been selected an
g placed in heaps containing twenty c
e more, but not used, and other store
d scattered through the great mass c
S clippings, whose well-battered END
S showed the marks of the innumerabl
: blows they had dealt the hard feldsit
It quartz and sienite in the making of a.
e row and spear heads therefrom.
e This now rocky island must hay
s. been a bold headland of the mainlan
l. during the days of prehistoric eeeHp;
e ton, and from it's commanding outloo
o the dwellers there could watch bot
land and sea for enemies or game, an
for these they were ever preparin
spear and arrow. 1t is hardly probab
that they would have carried in the
Sc frail canoes such quantities of materi
1e and climbed the precipitous sides
j. this rock to establish stone-chippir
Of shop on it's airy height. How MAJ
g thousands of years have passed sin
q, they were there no man knoweth
ne ever will know, but undoubtedly it w
In long time before the hungry, inva
es ing ocean had eaten enough of t
in land to make an island of Marblehe;
IN rock.
ed 1t is said to be the captains inte
;h ton to give the lot to the Peabo'
~ academy of science in Salem, if he h
not already done so. 1t is said by the
es who have seen the articles to be t
ne most remarkable find of very old sto
r. implements ever made in the county
C. Essex.