The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-29

| ed The clay beneath the ashes neal
/ the back part OF the cave Is gin many
| places cemented by the action of lime
| forming a clay and limestone hreccia-
/ Scattered about in the ashes and en-
| closed in the stalagmifc brecia at the
] back of the cave were found a number OF
! objects which point to the fact that the
cave has been occupied by man. These
| objects may be divided into eleven groups.
| of which seven may be considered as wit
Messing TO human occupancy, and four
may or may not bear such testimony.
The objects are as follows:
| A objects witnessing to the human oc-
cupancy of Jacobs cavern: % human
bones; (2) pottery; CD flint implements;
"a stone implements; 90 bone imple-
ments; 90 clam shells; 90 ashes and char
coal
B. Objects which do not certainly bear
testimony to human occupancy: (S) flint
flakes; 90 animal bones; 90 sandstone
fragments; ql) polished rocks.
1t will be obviously impossible in a
paper of this kind to DO more than SIM
ply mention these objects. All detailed
study must be reserved for those more
skilled in the discussion of such data
Human bones: Fragments of at least
four human skeletons were discovered in
the ashes One of these skeletons, in
Guiding skull in a good state Of preser-
walton was nearly complete
Pottery: Fragments of at least six YES
sels were found, including one handle.
Several of the fragments were decorated
Flint implements: ,nipped flint irnple-
ments are quite common, more than one
hundred specimens having been found.
These implements include arrow points,
drill spear points. knives, scrapers, etc,
as well as cores from which knives were
obtained The flint is in most cases simi-
lar TO that found in the hills near by, but
in some cases it is believed to have been
carried off for considerable distances
Stone implements: One large stone NOR
tar was found, as well as hammer stones,
a stone Ratchet and stones used for sharp
ening implements.
Bone implements: Several avis, needles,
scrapers. and other implements fashioned
from bone were secured.
Clam Shell: A number of sheels of
Unto were taken from the ashes. At least
two genera are represented, both prob
ably being found at the present time in
Sugar creek.
Ashes and Charcoal: AS stated above,
the floor of the cave was covered to the
depth of some three feet with wood ashes.
A conservative estimate would place the
amount of ashes at 5000 cubic feet. In
termingled with the ashes was a large
amount of charcoal varying in size from
small specks to Jumps the size Of wal
nut 1t was in the ashes that the other
objects mentioned in this paper were
found
Flint Flakes: Thousands of fakes of
flint were found in the ashes and en-
bedded in the stalagmites. This flint
varies in size from small silvers to pieces
the size of the hand. Careful search was
made along the walls and roof of the cave
to detect the presence of flint in the
fifty feet higher, but so far as known
there is none in the strata in which the
cave is located. For this reason it is
believed that the flint was carried into the
cave.
Animal Bones: Great numbers of bones
of various animals, including mammals,
birds and turtles, were found among the
ashes anad embedded in the staiagmites.
These bones have not yet been identified.
but it is probable that a large part of
them are those of living species.
Sandstone Fragments: A numbr of
small pices of unshaped sandstone were
obtained. The nearest point, so far as
known, where sandstone outcrops is four
miles distant from the cave, in the vi
cinity of White Rock. 1t seems probable
that the sandstone has been carried into
the cave.
Polished Limestone: A number of fat
limestone slabs that have fallen from
above, both just within the caves mouth
and particularly along the foot of the
BLUM a few feet distant, have been pol
ished or glazed apparently by the fric
ton or contact of greasy bodies. These
polished rocks are invariably in such a
position as most readily to serve as seats
or reclining places for the inha bitants
of the cave There are more than twenty
of these slabs that exhibit this peculiar
structure.
CHARLES NEWTON GOULD.
The University of Oklahoma, May 16, 1903.
1t will be seen that in this article Pro-
fessor Gould avoided expressing any opin-
ion regarding the age OF the cave. All
he attempted to do was to state in as
concise manner as possible the geologic
al facts as he observed them. All con-
lecture was left for other parties.
The Massachusetts, men who had the
matter of excavating the cave in charge
are now about TO publis an extended ar
ticle on the subject and have requested
professor Gould 10 write the geological
part of the paper and to give his opinion
regarding the age of the cave in which
the bones were found. a reporter learn
ing that this article had been sent away
called on the professor to learn his opin-
ion on the matter Regarding the subject
he said
1 am not at liberty to state just what
my conclusions in the matter were There
is such thing as scientific courtesy and
it would certainly not be courteous TO the
men who so kindly invited me to be pres
eut at the excavation of the save IL
should publish my convictions in advance
of the publication of the paper to which
hey have devoted SO much time
This much 1 may say. however The
only point on which my opinion would be
OF any value whatever is the possible age
of the stalactities along the rear wall
of the cave. AS described in my paper
published in Science these statistics had
been formed after the ashes that covered
the floor 10 the depth OF three feet were
deposited. Some OF these stalactits were
two feet in diameter and had all been
formed on top Of the ashes Since visiting
the cave last spring I have been looking
49,
growth. From what I am able to learn.