The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-24
SHELL MOUNDS or THE FRASER.
They Tell m Interesting story T. .
scisntiss who Dug Into Them.

MOUNDS are large ana spread over WlQe
area. They show unmistakable signs of
having been formed slowly during many
years, perhaps hundreds.
They at once attracted Professor Cd.
lum's attention. and he investigated long
and carefully into their formation, and
delved and dug with more vigor and en-
thusiasm than ever miner did for gold,
and as treasure after treasure of ages past
was unearthed his joy was keener than
any nugget finder has ever experienced.
In the mounds fresh and salt water shells
are numerous, said Professor Odlum; also
bones of animals, birds and men, the lat
ter being, perhaps, two very different
races. As yet would not say that the
oldest trees have grown over the shells,
but in some places the shells are around
and among the roots. But this fact is not
500 years old. it follows that the shells
have been there so long time.
Professor Odlum then drew for his In
terviewer various sketches of buried tree,
and Of implements. knives, skulls, ETC.,
found in the mounds, and continued:
Concerning one Of the large fir trees
may say that when it was 300 years old
there was a large hole burned in one side
OF it near the ground, as If, under the
shade of It's branches, people had kindled
their camp fires. As the fire died out in
this particular tree the resin ran down out
of the charred upper part and formed
shell outside of the burned wood surround
ing the hole. Over the resin wall the new
wood and bark grew, and for 300 years the
hole was hidden from sight. The huge
tree covered up its wound and continued
growing until q few weeks ago, when it
was cut down, at which time it was green
and fresh. Its diameter six feet from the
ground is eight feet five inches. This
discovery is important as it gives a
which this coast was visited by human
beings A short unit, but definite and
thus very important. With many other
things as collaterals, this unit may be ex-
tended to 500 years. There is no trouble
in getting trees here on the coast, near
the city of Vancouver, which were grow
ing 1000 years ago or thereabouts. 1t
would be highly interesting and instruc-
tive to gather the many tales, traditions,
customs, words, belongings and kindred
materials for the purpose of connecting
the British Columbia Indians with the
peoples Of the Pacific islands and Asiatic
countries"
One of the most peculiar instruments
found in the shell mounds was highly
polished green stone article. similar in
size and shape to the Delaying pins used
by sailors. Three or four of these were
found. So far as Professor Odlum can re-
call. he never saw anything exactly like
them in his researches in Japan or else
where, or In any museum, though he has
seen green stone curios Of different kinds
manufactured in Asiatic countries. Its
finish and hardness are remarkable; and
for those who understand such matters it
may be said that its hardness is seven in
the scale given by mineralogists. There
Is hole in the upper or larger end. which
suggests that it was used for attaching
string. Professor Odlum's belief is that it
was employed as a Delaying pin, and that
the sailors who welded it came from Asia
or Japan. In fact, several legends of
which he is cognizant, together with
names of places and customs, strengthen
this belief.
Another find was a hard bone awl, pol
ished and compact, very similar to ivory.
1t is very like the bone avis used at the
present time by the Japanese fishermen in
making nets. This one had been in service
considerably, as the markings at the point
show. The large end is the joint and evil
IDENTITY shows that it is bone of some ami
NAL, being too thick and solid to be that Of
q bird.
There was also chisel made from the
horn of a deer. It is well-formed and we'll.
polished, having been rubbed after the
chipping process had been adopted to give
it the chisel shape. It is very old, as it is
now quite rotten and readily crumbles
away. The awl is Of more recent date, or
else its texture and material are more en-
quite easily detected.
There was also the point of . horn or
tusk considerably ornamented. 1t also is
quite old and highly polished. The rings
around it are clearly for ornamental pur-
poses. There is a deep groove cut around
the large end for fastening a string to it,
Nhnht x- for - i
conveniently. 1t may have been used as
a standard for gauging the sizes of the
meshes of their nets, but this is only con.
lecture.
There were found several spear-heads.
One is made OF tine quality of black slate.
Judging from the shape, markings and
finish, Professor Odlum saws il was used
as knife 1t is sharp and is double edged.
very like the fish knives used by the fish
ermen of the mikado's empire. Another
spear-head is made of bone and is harbed.
1t may have been used for catching fish,
fowl and even animals of a large kind.
Perhaps 1t was used as weapon in times
of war. 1t is exactly like the barbed bone
weapons of many of the Pacific islanders
and is not unlike, in form. the spears used
by the Australian blacks of Gippsland. in
Victoria, aud the blacks of New South
Wales.
Another barbed bone spear-head is of a
different pattern and shorter and has pro-
lections as supports TO keep it in proper
relation to the handle when the forward
thrust was made. Another spear-head
was ehisei-ponted, and Professor Odlum
has no hesitation i'll connecting these
spear-heads with those of the inhabitants
of many OF the Pacific islands.
One of the most interesting things TO
his own mind that Professor Odlum found
was stone bowl which stands seven
inches high. II has projecting lip all
the way round, and measures four and a
half inches across the top. The base is
four inches across. and the bowl tapers
from the lip to where il JOINS the base, at
which point 1t measures two and half
inches across. IL IS handsomely or
namented, the design being raised
about quarter of an inch. Pro-
lessor odlum has seen similar bowls
IN Japan. One thing IN particular is pecu-
mar. The stone OF which it is made is a
volcanic tuia, exactly Ike the stones used
in Japan for pavements. walls hibachis
and other purposes. This vessel is not OF
Indian origin, unless by the word Indian
! Is meant inhabitants Of British Columbia
VINO came across the Pacinc.
"A stone mortar. or a vessel so construct
Ell that Il NAV have been used for such. -
carved our OF hne compact volcanic stone
OF reddish tinge, which at first sight
! puts one in mind Of red granite of coarse
! texture. Many peoples have used for
( different purposes stone articles OF this
or similar kinds. But enough for the
/ present, and let q close of the article be
made with 4 reference 20 the most
sadly interesting thing We. taken
from these shell mounds. II is a human
skull, and. alas for this poor Iorick of CEN
taTies ago. there Is none 10 give his exact
history. The skull Is of great age, and vet
E -