The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
PREHISTORIC PORTO RICO.
An Inviting Field for tho ArchaoloEist
Opened by tho War with Spain.

WAsHINGTOS. June 1O--The acquisition Of
Porto Rico by tho United States is a source OF
qualification to archrolOgists In the new pos
session they recognize rich field for research
Up to the present time the field has been prac-
tically as il was hundreds OF years ago. The
curators OF tho National Museum are anxious
to begin Investigations there as soon as tho
necessary funds for the purpose can be secured
Columbus knew Porto Rico as place of
mystery where religious rites were observed
Herrera. ono Of Columbus's historians, men
tons that a sailor from the discoverer's shin
reported seeing man on the island dressed in
white tunic which came down to his knees
and an old Indian pretended to have seen
cacique or priest clad like the Catholic priests
OF Spain. The history OF the strange race that
pcopled the island centuries ago is all but
closed book. Prof. Otis 4. Mason, ono Of tho
curators Of the National Museum said on this
subject:
Everything goes to show that the island Is
OF the greatest Importance from q scientific
standpoint. In prehistoric times people went
there for religious purposes 1t is generally
believed that they came from South America
passing up through the small islands OF the
Antilles until they reached Porto Rico There
they erected their sacred plnoes OF worship
We have not seen these and we know nothing
them and see whore thoy were set up. We
want to find their luarries and the instru-
nents with which they worked"
The remarkable beauty and finish OF the
store implements Of Porto Rico and others Of
the Antilles were not wholly unknown to tho
students of American archaeology prior to
1876 Now and then small collections had
found their way to London. Copenhagen, or
New YORK. but they had never been collected
in sufficient numbers for conn arative study
until the l.atimer collection wa presented to
the llnesi Known. has only served To- in
crease IN" interest OF archmoogists in
the study OF thr prehistoric inhabitants
tho l.ntimer collection are pottery. ccts
smoothing stones. mcnlinE stones. stools
dlScoidal and sph"roldal stones. beads. cyl
and stone collars Many OF the objects n re sim
liar To- those found in other parts OF America
and throughout the world, but others are so
very rare a. to merit careful scrutiny and re-
found in caves, but. the greater part
S"r" turned NJ by the plough and hoe.
Nv som" scientists 1t is believed that the makers
Of these objects were "A purely neolithlc peO-
pie. and according To others they wor" not
Sayag"s. npt wrr" in the middle status Of bar
hhrlsm. Their implements Of industry. 40 faras
they nave been recovered. are tho most beau
titul in the world. judged from an archTo0gi-
ca point of view Their canoes yrr,. tx
Quisi,eIy wrought. with The sides raised with
canes, daub"d over with bitumen. and not flat
but with a keel.
COLLECTION. IN" most interesting objects in the
collection are the -tun" collars They are puX-
2l"s 10 tn" archaD "GIst NJ suggestion as To
their us" has proved acceptable. They are
called collars hrcars" OF their resemblance 10
the modern article of horse furniture. Some
o. them are III II rud" state, indicating stage
and these finished specimens are right and left
shouldered. as II intended TO b. used in pairs.