The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-04-28
AN ANCIENT QUARRY
One in Nebraska That Was Worked
by Unknown Race.
Series of Mines Buried Under the
Accumulation of Centuries In
dictate the Loss Of n People
in Ages Past.

In the great flint quarries near
Eehawka, Neb., covering more than a
township, party of well-known sci
entists has found what they think is
evidence of the existence of a lost race,
hitherto unknown. 1t is thought that
this prehistoric people belonged to
neither the red men nor the mound
builders. But who they were and
at what remote age they inhabited
the Missouri valley cannot now be
ascertained, says a recent report from
that section.
They were a race of patient plod-
ders whose knowledge and handiwork
had not been developed beyond the
primitive ideas of the stone age BY
their industry it is shown that they
were not the nomadic, indolent In
dian race; by their ignorance and
crude handiwork that they were not
of the refined, almost civilized mound
builders, the first American aborig-
ines, whose existence is definitely
known.
Then who were they, whence did
they come. and by whom were they
obliterated? Aside from the mound
builders and the latter-day Indians,
no American aborigines are known to
scientists, and in these quarries is
evidence of strange race.
There is no doubt the quarries are
of great age. The entire series of
mines has been buried beneath an
average of ten feet of soil The ac-
emulation of this must have taken
centuries. 1t is known positively the
condition has not changed at all in
100 years. Then how many centuries
did it take for this ten feet of soil to
cover the whole of the mines?
To settle the mooted question
whether these quarries, situated on
the Nehawka fruit farm owned by
Isaac M. Pollard, were the work of
some artificial agency or of nature, an
unusually large party of prominent
scientists was induced by State Arch
aeologist z. z. Blackman to visit the
quarries. Of the findings of the sci
entists State Archaeologist Blackman
gave out the following statement:
"Mr. Pollard. when he arranged the
visit to this spot year ago, caused a
cross section to be cut in the brow of
the hill and laid bare the face of the
quarry. This excavation is so feet in
length, six feet wide, and averages ten
feet in depth. 1t shows that the arti-
sans removed two layers of solid lime
stone and one of decayed rock before
they came to the strata which they
sought, and which contained the nod
ules of flint from which implements
were made. Tons of flint are scat
tered on the surface and in the debris
of the quarry, and there are many
rocks showing where the flint nod
ules were taken out. On the large
pieces of limestone in the quarry pit
one may see fractures, as if they had
been struck with heavy sledge. The
face of the quarry, as shown by the
excavation, is a perpendicular wall -
feet high. The surface indication be-
fore digging was circular or oblong
depression. There is a burr oak stand
ing nearly in the center of the pit
measuring six feet two inches in cir
conference.
"As to the people who did this quar-
rying little can be said at this time.
The archaeology of Nebraska was not
Systematically studied until a year
ago, and that is scarcely time enough
TO arrive at definite conclusion. This
much is evident, however: A lazy In
dian-and most of them we have met
are that way-never did this work.
The work was Systematically done. as
if under one mans directions; the
flint from these quarries is found in
well-made implements 100 miles from
the quarries.
"The Missouri river front presents
a complicated archaeological field. and
one which needs more time to develop.
There are indications of three distinct
races or tribes of stone age people
here. These three are intermingled in
places, are separated in other places;
they had traits and customs very sim
liar in some respects and unlike in 9TH
ers.
Briefly stated, we know but little
about them, 1t is my opinion that
these quarries were worked by tribe
of people related remotely, if at all,
to any Indians known to the early set
tiers of Nebraska. As to the age of
this work, the above cited burr oak
tree teaches us that at least 100 years
ago the pit where it stands was inprac-
tically the same condition as to-day"
PhonoIoEy New Art.
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