The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-30
NOT SKULL OF A MODERN MAN.


S W WiIltson of Lawrence writes to Science of the
discovery in April last the neighbohood of Leaven-
worth Of human bones by two young men who dig
gng fruit storage cave their residence Little at
tenton paid the discovery the time but NJ S.
Long curator of the museum Of Kansas City visited
place secured such of the bones could be found
Unfortunately however. many of the bones had then
been lost or mutilated beyond repair Mr. Long then
sent for Mr. Wilitson together they careful
examination of the locality from whence the bones
well Of the bones themselves and the two agreed
that the specimen represented the oldest reliable human
hitherto discovered North America The tun-
mel by the young directed hori
zontay into the side of hill distance of seventy
three feet, the mouth small though deep ra-
vine opening on the food plain of the Missouri river,
nineteen miles northwest of Kansas City within
few miles of Lansing The skeleton was found at the
extremity Of the tunnel tweny-three feet from the sur
face above determined by ventilatng shaft dug
by The floor tunnel is heavy stratum, of car
boniferous limestone six feet in thickness outcrops
at its mouth. The material excayated. nearly uniform
parts tunnel is river loess or alluyium in
terspersed here and there by limestone fragments Some
OF these limestone masses are of considerable size and
lie for the part horizontally as though they had
fallen neghborng Cl1 and had been transported
by the water. The material also contains numerous
snail and some Shells the latter with he valves
united The alluyium is so firm and inaurated that the
tunnel about eight feet in diameter has its
shape without prop walls nor has there been any
OF its walls roof The skull larger part Of the
skeleton found reguary placed according TO the
testimony OF the young men, the bottom of the
tunnel the mandibes separated some five or six feet
That the skeleton intrusive buried or its
position due TO creeping sliding Of the material
uncomfortable and out of the question,
III. Wlitson declares that was inconceiyable that
there had been any deception the part OF the finders
Of the skeleton He discovered fragments lying on the
floor Of the the place ascrbed TO the dscoy-
cry and picked up numerous fragments on the dump
outside The bones were found where they we're report
ed to be- and had been deposited there hy the water at
the time Of the persons death The Uranium IT,
self contained positive evidence Of its commences not
only the characteristic matrx yet firmly attached 10
the bone but ndurated portions were included in its
sinuses The specimen was unQuesuonaby fossil AMI
found buried twenty-three feet below the present
surface in indurated aluyum that has never been de-
poseted since its deposition This auvum was more
of deposition and not aeolsn or taus fron
the neighborng cliffs Distinct lines Of qualification
we're observed one Of them running clearly the whole
length Of the tunnel little above the horizon Of the ske
etou-
The age Of the skeleton. Mr wiiitzon decla-ea was
evidently postglacial but nevertheless great It's hor
zon was about twenty feet above the highest waterark
of the Missouri river and than fty feet abave its
sTesent bed Add this twenty feet Of river