Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-01-03
RELICS OF THE STONE ACE.
An Important Archaeological Discovery
Made Recently on Marblehead Rock.

An Important Archaeological Discovery
Made Recently on Marblehead Rock.
Marblehcad rock. with its black-and-
white beacon, constructed partly OF
stone and partly OF wood, is as familiar
to yachtsmen and north-shore naviga-
tors as any object along tho coast. says
the Boston Herald. 1t bears southeast
bv east half south from Marblehead
lighthouse, aud is distant one-fourth
of a mile. There is clear middle pass
age with five fathoms of water between
ii and the point of Marblehead great
neck, sometimes called Nanepashcmct'
This PERCEPTIONS 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 1nquestionably of volcanic
origin, if not the three-chimncycd "'s'~
ten of an active volcano in past co...
Virrifcd rock, volcano ashes, both
hardened and unhardened, with traces
OF lava flow and the mixing OF the COM
ponent parts into a 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
very soft OF molten condition; the
northeasterly one of these is now the
bed of a pond, about % feet indiametcr,
41-2feet deep, with an overflow through
a seam.
The second impression is larger and
deeper than the others, supporting a
swanpv growth of bushes above its
thick mud. The crater nearest the
summit is from to II feet above the
others, 80 feet in circumference, and
somewhat sheltered from the eastcrly
gales by the rocky crown on which
stands the beacon. This crater is tlled
with comparatively dry earth, whose
surface is level and covered with a sod
of golden rod, ivy, woodbine, and 9th
CT plant roots. with the undecaying
heart of red cedar roots, which must
have hourished there very long time
ago.
During the early days of autumn
Capt. j. II. Carter, summer resident
at the Neck" discovered here many
evidences of prehistoric occupation,
and the removal of the entire sod and
earth to u depth of two feet disclosed
the sight of a workshop, where human
industry had prospered at the hands OF
the people Of the stone age. Thcil
rude implements, fashioned for wal
OIL chase, after Il rest of untold cen
turies, were again brought to the light
of day.
The carth-stained and corroded con.
dition of many of the articles prov.t
conclusively that this had been work.
ing-place for theancient people through
long generations. Deepest in the eartl
were numerous large and very rude
spear-heads, which had become soft
and challly on their exterior surface
through age, while some, which were
accidentally broken by blows from the
pick-ax showed the interior wall Of
the sparkling feldsite crystals, and as
hard and tlinty as ever. Here We're
found great stores of unused hammered
stones, which had been selected and
placed in heaps containing twenty OF
more, but not used, and other stores
scattered through the great mass OF
clippings, whose well-battcred ends
showed the marks of the innumerable
blows they had dealt the hard feldsite
quartz and sienite in the making Of az
row and spear heads therefrom.
This now rocky island must have
been u bold headland of the mainland
during the days of prehistoric occupa
ton, and fromits commanding outlook
the jewellers there could watch botl
land and sea for enemies or game, and
for these they were ever preparing
spear and arrow. 1t is hardly probable
that they would have carried in theil
frail canoes such quantities of materia
and climbed the precipitous sides O.
this rock to establish Il stonc-chippins
shop on its airy height. How MANY
thousands OF Years have passed since
they were there no man knowcth OF
ever will know, but undoubtedly it wa:
long time before the hungry, invad
ing ocean had eaten enough of tn,
land to make an island of Marblehcal
rock.
1t is said to be the captains inten'
ton to give the lot to the Peabody
academy Of science in Salem, if he ha!
not already done So 1t is said by thos'
who have seen the articles to be thu
most remarkable find OF very old ston,
implements ever made in the county o
Essex.