The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-10-13
FIRST
DENIZENS
OF COAST
Berkeley to Study
the First Families
of California
Their History Lies In The
Caves, 81 ell Mounds, and
Debris Of Ancient
Homes

The University of California depart.
ment of archaeology has just made
public appeal to persons in all parts
of the state and adjacent regions to
give aid in a comprehensive ethno-
logical survey of California which
shall materially help the members of
the department in determining the
important problems on which they
are now bending all their energies.
The object of this research is to OBJ
tain a knowledge of the first peopling
of the Pacific Coast and of the early
migrations and of the relationship of
the recent and the present Indians
a study which is required by anthro
biologists and by all interested in the
early history of man.
That the work is peculiarly press.
ing at the present time is state i'm
the appeal of the department, as fol
lows: Nowhere In America has there
been such a diversity of Indian Ian.
guages as in CALIFORNIA; condition
which has long puzzled anthropolo
gists. During the past fve years
more investigations OF these languag.
es have been made than in all IRE.
vious time. These Indian languages
are now fast disappearing. Several
are at present moment known only
by five or six, and others by twenty
or thirty individuals. and hardly a
year passes without some special dia.
lect or even language becoming ex
,inct For this reason II is desired
that students should be instructed In
the methods of recording and study
Ing indian languages, and then de.
vote themselves TO special research.
The University is therefore giving In.
struction in this branch of linguistica
with the hope of preparing students
to carry on the researches before the
opportunities pass away"
The gathering of material for a
hrst-class working museum is now
matter of prime importance. System.
attic explorations are being made by
the experts Of the department in the
later gravel deposits, in several lime
stone caves and in the ancient shell
heaps of the primitive Indians. The
languages OF the existing tribes are
being studied; the customs and myth.
ology OF the different tribes are be.
Ing recorded and collections illustrat.
ing their arts are being formed for
the museum. A study of the physical
characters Of the various groups OF
aborigines. combined with that OF the
skeletons found during the archaeo.
logical explorations. is being made I'm
order to determine the physical rola
tions OF the Indians OF California with
those OF other regions. BY correlat
ing the physical characters, the par. |
tcular cultures OF the past and the |
present Indians, and the various lin |
guistic stocks or families stin extant. |
1t is hoped TO solve the great problem
Of the relationship OF the different
groups OF Indians In California and
their relationship as a whole with peo-
pies OF other parts OF the continent,
and possibly with certain tribes Of
Asia.
In the belief that great assistance
could be rendered In a timely fashion
by the Inhabitants OF the different
sections Of the state, the University
authorities have made the general ap.
peal for cooperation. They have
asked for information relating 10 the
location Of caves. shell heaps. old
burial places, ancient village sites and
scattered fragments or survivors OF
nearly extinct tribes. Specimens are
ilso asked for and arrangements have
been made with Wells, Fargo a. Co.
% carry 20 the University from an
lopts In California, Oregon. sArizona
md Nevada all material addressed 10
he anthropologieal department. at the
Afliated Colleges. In San Francisco.
provided Il does not weigh more than
ifty pounds. These objects. when
'arefully labeled as 10 where and how
ound. would, on comparative study,
'ften aid In determining the dlstribu.
ion OF tribe or group OF which other
'ecords may be lost or 30 uncertain
hat just such conhrmatory evidence
o establish a particular point Is re.
luired