The sun., 1899-03-05

The Work OF Men Unearthed from Beneath
the Bones of fRstodons.
FROM tie cinannati ENQUIRER.

FROM the Cincinnati ENQUIRER.
CARLISLE. KY. Feb. 25.-Discoveries Of the
utmost Importance in American archaeology
have recently been made at the Blue Lick
Springs near this place. One OF the finds plain
ly indicates that the vicinity OF the springs was
the habitat OF q considerable population. and
perhaps the site OF large town. In the pre-
historic period. long before the mnstodon be-
came extinct
About 1850. when boone. Finley and Knox.
with other rioneer hunters. were exploring
the wild OF X Kentucky. they dis covered Blue
Lick Springs. Big Bone Lick and other salt
water springs. At these licks buffalo. elk.
deer. bear and other wild animals congregated
in such numbers as to tramp down every ves-
tiRe OF vegetation for acres in all directions.
These animals came great distances. and lead
ing to the springs from various directions
were roads trodden bare OF veGetation. which
the first explorers called buffalo traces"
In August. 1882. when 500 Indian warriors.
detachments from northern tribes. appeared
suddenly before Bryans Station and laid siege
unsuccessfuly. they departed by a buffalo
trace" to Blue Lick Springs. As the historian
recalls. they were Immediately pursued by
ITO Kentuckians. when an awful hand-to- hand
struggle epsued.
1t was in February, 1873. that Daniel Boone.
with thirty compaions, while making salt for
the frontier posts. was captured assecond time
by Indians. Boone's kettles we're broken and
thrown into the spring. The recent excava-
tions brought out the kettles. broken. Just as
they were thrown in by the savaGes This
spring. as are the springs at Big Bone Lick. Is
In natural depression, narrow ravine af-
fording channel OF escape for the water. Both
springs in seasons OF extremely high water are
subject to overflow. the one from the Licking.
tho other from the Ohio. This explains tho
great depth to. WHICH these mastodon bones
were buried. the alluvial soil. al, every over
flow. covering them deeper and deeper. Last
summer. from some unaccountable reason.
ib Biue Lick Springs almost ceased 70 How. anc
Disconnected at their loss. they began to cud-
lost fountain. Pumps from various places
were put to work, and where formerly q vast.
SIns up wsd Hsss bnd an tooR
the water away.
At depth qt a very few feet piece Of iron
camping there, more than 100 years ago. It is
pean mould. and no doubt served to roastmany
2 q deer. elk or buffalo. as well as corn pone.
and
kettles they ,exhHmed three sticks Of oak
wood, cut aud split in pieces similar to the
cordwood OF the markets. in a perfect state OF
preservation. and like the. stones idols, bones,
&C., cUloTtu In6 CndTdcteTlSrlC DihCk peculiar
to the water. At the depth OF about eight feet
they began to find the SIX keletons Of deer. elk
and and buffalo. IN some the bones and horns be-
Ing in a splendid state OF preservation. Lower
down they were aston shed to como upon
bones of colossal proportions. those Of mon
elenhant as the elephant does above the hog.
The bones Inst e5humed " at Blue Lick
MAJ todon as those found bleaching % In Ies The sun
at Big Bone Lick, 125 years ago The corre-
snondent saw teeth. one Of which weighed over
am NJ hA nm
IDENTITY were those OF herbvorous. not car
long by about four or five broad more eerrated
IN 4 fro front than back. near the hinge Of the jaw.
sso six q sks sas 9 whs Ss
hinge being worn as fiat and smooth as smooth
Ing nG.d irons n al In &c. one place the jaTbone was
Into It some eight to ten inches. x tusk was
exhumed which at the death OF the animal
out in two sections. part Of the middle crum- srn
bling so that 1t could not be preserved. 1t is
eight or ten inches in diameter. and must. to
a section midway between the points OF the
s tusks and their articulation with a socket.
feet, only was excavated. further work will no
value from this me new % mastodon TOD on 'ssy graveyard. a
These ! 1n mast. .mastodon bones were at q depth Of
depth of about fourteen feet symmetrical |
stone pavement. evidently the work OF man.
man antedating the mastodon. and the Indian. |
The kettles and wood OF Boone and the pio- |
leer kentuckans were on top. the small bones |
?f deer ell and buffalo next. those OF the masta-
lon In the next stratum. and the pavement |
came last. 1t was systematically laid 1t had |
we're In the rough. while the top was moro |
'mooth. Just as the stones forming the pave |
nent OF little villages. There was one stone |
about two feet long and OF four or five inches |
hickness that had margin Of seven or eight |
nches as unworn the undersidA. This |
IN worn side was evidently covered with an
,ther stone or piece Of timber. This walk OF |
he ancients to the springs was followed but a |
ew feet. so further excavations may reveal
more of interest