Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-01
lhnlAh RELlcs al klNEo.
Vast Quantities Unearthed from IN
Front Of kineo House.

Kineo. Sept. 3O--What is probably the
most extensive find of Indian relics
over made in Maine has been the result
of the past weeks work on the grading
operations in front of the Kineo house.
The plows, harrows and scrapers have
nnearthed hundreds of arrow heals,
smear heads and many other articles
made of the flint which made this place
n faous rendezvous for the aborigines.
Tradition says that the ground now
being broken up for tennis courts was
once an Indian burial place; also that
II was a place of the gathering of the
tribes for pow-wows and perhaps fierce
battles. For years past relics have been
picked up about Kineo frequently, but
the excavations now in progress seem
to have hit a veritable pocket of
relics.
The ground being broken up is on the
high bank backed by THE Pine Trees,
known to all Kineo visitors. 1t is evil
dent that the Indians in former times
camped on this point, which was then
covered with forests, and here worked
the flint which is still found in consid-
cradle quantities.
The ground from 6 to Is inches below
the surface bears much evidence of this
arrow factory" Here are found chips
Of flint. half-made heads. immense
pieces of flint showing marks of some
tool. and spear heads nearly finished
but abandoned evidently for some flaw.
Many arrow heads are found with one
side partially shaped.
The arrow heads average in length
from an inch to an inch and half. ana
are generally triangular in shape. Some
are long and slim, made with great
care. no doubt a fancy type. While there
are others much smaller than the aV-
erage. which the local guides say were
made for children.
Then there are number of very rude
knife shaped stones, which We're prob
ably used for splitting off the flint, and
smaller pieces of the same shape said
to have been used for working skins.
The best specimens are oval in shape,
about six inches long and brought down
to a sharp edge from a high center on
each side.
A few fragments of tomahawkS have
been secured and it is expected that
more will be found by deeper digging
AS the tomahawk is one of the Oldest
of the Indian weapons it is supposed
that at the time of the arrow-makine
the Indians had tomahawks made Of
iron, clinging to the use of flint for ar
row heads.
An interesting feature of the discov-
erv is the various stages of preserva-
ton of these relics and fragments
Some are comparatively modern, as
shown by the color of the flint, which
is of dark slate closely resembling the
color of the Kineo mountain formation
Other pieces are dark brown, showing
the action of the earth upon them FOL
many years. Still others, especially the
spear heads, are almost white ana 1T
orally honeycombed by this action.
1t is estimated that these pieces mus
be from 1900 to 2000 years old, as fin
stubbornly resists the action of the
earth. a century making hardly "A per
ceptible impression. Perfect arrow ant
spear heads are usually found upon ole
battletelds and at much create
depth.
The presence of the relics seems t.
demonstrate the fact that the flint for
nations here drew Indians from al
over the Eastern section of the cOun
try, as it is well known that arrow
heads Of the Kineo flint have beer
picked up as far west as the Missis
SiDui.