The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-29
MADE WONDERFUL FIND
Prof, Gould Visits Cave of An
Cient Race
DUG OUT OF SOLID ROCK
Skeletons of Ancient Men
Found Amid Ashes

Norman, o. T, May 2S.-Prof. C. N.
Gould returned recently. from southwest
ern Missouri, where he has been engaged
in the inspection of cave, which prom
.ses to be of much archaeological value
Mr. E H. Jacobs, an archeologist of Ben
tonyille, Arkansas, discovered the cave
and wrote to w. ]. Morehead, curator Of
the archaeological department of Phillips
academy, Andover, Mass. Prof. More
head sent for DIR. Chas. Peabody of Cam
bridge Mass. and DR.. Holmes of the
bureau of ethnology at Washington, and
other specialists in archaeology. He also
sent for Prof. Gould, of the University Of
Oklahoma. to pass on the geological for
nation OF the cave. The cave is four
miles north Of the Arkansas line and
twelve east of the Indian territory line.
For two weeks a force of ten men has
been busy excayating and it will take
another month TO complete the work.
The cave is seventy feet long, a hole dug
out OF solid rock The bottom is COW
cred with a coat of. ashes three feet
deep, estimated in all at some. 5000 cubic
feet. The only plausible theory in ex-
PLANTATION of this peculiar formation is
that the cave was formerly inhabited by
cave jewellers and the ashes are those left
by the fires they built.
Out of the debris of ashes and clay have
been dug four human skeletons, together
with bones of animals. The arms are
unduly long and the legs unduly short,
which argues that the skeletons belong
to an ancient period. Flint instruments
of all kinds, knives. spear-heads, drills,
as well as bone and stone instruments.
are found in abundance.
The surface of the cave is of limestone,
worn perfectly smooth, probably by the
long generations of use by the cliff
jewellers DR.. Peabody tells of a sheep
fold at Mycene of similar limestone.
worn smooth in a like manner by long
use by the sheep.
Along the back wall of the cave the
water pouring off the limestone has form
ed hugh stalactites which Prof. Gould
says must have been in process of for
nation for thousands of years. AS these
stalactites have formed above the coat of
ashes. in which the human skeletons and
other relics of ancient times have been
found the cave must be one of extreme
age
The most important discovery, of course
is that of the human skeletons. Only
four prehistoric skeletons have ever been
found up to the present time. Three in
Europe and one in America. The one
found in America was dug out a number
of years ago in California. OF those
found in Europe, one was the Engis skull,
near Engis, Belgium. The second, the
Neander-Thal skull, in Germany. The
third, the Man-of-Spy skull, near the vii
lage of Spy. These three skulls were all
found along the lower Rhine valley. They
are all characterized by the low fore
head, thick skull and other marks of a
degenerate race. Up to the last year
anthorpologists have found no positive
proof of the existence of a prehistoric
race of men on the American continent.
Last year, it will be remembered. a skull
was reported to have been found near
Lansing, Kansas. and many theories were
put forth as to its probable age and i'm
portance In solving the problem of pre-
historic man in America From the later
evidence il is probable however, that
this skull was not OF ancient origin.
As far as known the discovery of these
four skeletons IN southwestern Missouri
is the first positive discovery Of a cave
man in America. Their antiquity is yet
10 be proven The staIactites. however.
the three-foOt coating of ashes and other
evidences Of like kind. seem to prove that
the discovery IS indeed an important one.
Prof. Gould was the only geologist pres
ent al the investigation of the cave, and
as almost the whole question of antiquity
must be settled by a study of the geologi-
cal formation. his opinion in the case is Of
great value. Prof. Gould is of the opinion
that the cave is the greatest find of its
kind ever made in America. OF course.
the work OF excavation has only begun
and the greatest discoveries are vet to be
made I'm all probability He thinks there
is little question as to its antiquity and
that the discoveries being made in the
cave viii be of invaluable aid in solving
the problem of the prehistoric race Of
man which inhabited the American con-
tinent at one time.