The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-17
A PREHISTORIC RACE.
Strange Discoveries Made by an Explore
the Pacific Coast.

Strange Discoveries Made by an Explorer
the Pacific Coast
A strange and apparently important
discovery OF old graves, copper and
stone weapons and implements. and
nonoliths, was lately made in Santa
Maria and Guiana valleys, in the Coast
mountains. Thus far the discovery has
attracted the keenest interest, though
as vet it is known only locally.
The graves are in mounds which RVS
five or six fee: above the surface of the
ground, and the mounds themselves
are often seventy-fve or one hundred
feet in length and Of almost round or
oblong shape. u is believed there arc
thirty or forty graves in each mound.
4. ID. Bowen, of the state senate, told
the details as far as known.
The discovery was made by Juan
Olives, Of Santa Maria, who dug into
the mounds, which have been known
to exist for a long time. At q depth #
ten feet. when he dug into the grave,
the first thing his pick struck was 4
polished slab OF "a slightly greater
length than that Of an ordinary coffin
of an adult Of the present age. When
he gazcd underneath he looked into a
long box of stone that had nothing ia
it but dust. The body had laid 50 long
that even the bones had disappeared
and there was nothing but ashes Tho
grave was older than any he had heard
OF on the Pacific coast. The slab was
of peculiarly bard and polished stous
the like Of which does not exist ia the
country. II was thin. however, having
been worked down tin IL was not more
than half an inch thick.
Olives worked away and got out
other stones. The top, bottom. sides
aud ends were all Of the same curious
hard and thin stone, and had been set
in the earth aud held BY the soil with
out grooves or other fastening. lie ez-
plored further and found numerous
battle-axes aud other weapons Of cop-
per, and vessels peculiarly made and ~
stone. Curious copper disks resembling
coins were also found. There were
many ia Tie grave. and the investigate
pushed his way still farther into the
mound. There ne found many other
copper implements, some being axes
and others rude knives, while some were
quite long and Looked a. though they
had been used as spears.
The mounds are scattered along foS
e couple Of miles. and there are prob
ably a hundred Of them
Knowing there WE'RE similar mounds
in Guiana valley adjoining he pushed
on % them, and. digging ia them. found
collins. dust, and implements 81 stone
and copper sim lar - those 81 Santa
Maria. Every were tlie marks ot
an ancient race--a race, IS il believed,
far antedatiDg any hitherto known on
the coast. lie gathered up some % th-
dust ard kept IL with the copper and
stone weapons he bad secured SONS
Of The weapons ars nosv 10 the town q
santa MARIA. where they are attracting
great attention.
An expedition Il be.ng talked - &c
90 ~ the ancient 8ouHJs and thur
ouRhIv explore them SIR. bowen aisr
tells that high above the stage road
between Los Olives and Santa Bar
bars near the graves. are some natural
Ia9n0lits oT rocks with smooth sur.
faces. on which are carved many strange
characters, looking mach Ike cbarar-
ters used bY The Egyptians IN desiy.
mating their tolnis --san Trzueiscs
ChrooicIe