Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-01-27

sizes and kinds, ranging in length from
one-half inch to four and -three-quarter
inches, with all the intermediate sizes.
The large one here exhibited was found
on the side Of the hill containing the
graves. the smaller one at the foot OF the
mound among refuse OF the camp and a
large number of flint chips.
Bone needles are the most numerous of
all the tools and implements to be found
in the mound. There seems to be no
special shape or size of them. All are
ground down to a fine. sharp point. They
vary in size and shape, as will be seen
from the exhibit. The difference in length
may be accounted for in some measure
at least by Tho method that was used in
keeping the tool sharp. When they be-
came dun by use or otherwise, they were
rubbed on the surface Of a soft sand stone
until they were again sharp. In this man
ner they grew shorter with each operation.
This continual griding on the sand stone
caused grooves TO be formed in the stone,
a sample of which is in the collection.
The bones used in the manufacture OF
the needles were from various birds and
small animals. AS will be surmised. the
method of use of these needles differed
somewhat from hat of our modern steel
one When the Indian woman of long
ago wanted TO sew, she punched holes
with her needle in the skin or leather and
drew a strip OF string of rawhide through.
repeating the operation on both sides of
tho articles 70 he sewed. until the job
was complete.
A few feet down was found a pair Of
Instruments that were used TO AXE the
fish from the rivers and lakes. These fish
hooks are of solid bone and are shaped
like the modern steel hook with the excep-
ton OF the barb, which is missing from
them. A small knoll was left on the end
for the purpose of fastening a thong or
strip OF buckskin.
There are stone and bone scrapers found
here, used for the purpose OF scraping
hides and for marking pottery.
For the marking of pottery also there
was used a Bone tool with notches. so
made that in drawing the instrument once
across the soft clay several lines were
made.
On the ~hole these Indians showed a
remarkable intelligence in the
ture and use of their tools and instruments
of domestic economy and their pottery.
The large amount of these remains would
indicate a thrifty and busy community.
IN art Of sewing was certainly very fa-
miliar to them, judging from the amount
OF bone needles and the number of bones
FOUND that We're evidently selected for
the purpose OF manufacture.
The art of making pottery was the
49, FiNf ANoAot VI III tAN AltL0liOb, IL lie
word civilization ma be used in this con-
nection. TIL ability to make dishes and
pots for cooking marks a long step in the
way OF domestic qualities wherein the
red men are usually deficient. Many and
various are the pots, kettles and dishes
that are to be found In broker fragments
in the mound. and which were used by
these Indians. Ii is probable that the dis
covery of the art was about the same as
that of the southern Indians. The first
vessels were made of wicker or straw and
grass. The clay was then plastered on to
protect the wicker from tho fire. The saw
age soon noticed that after the wicker
had burned away the clay would harden
and remain upright and could be handled,
He then began to experiment and very
soon demonstrated that pots and kettles
and dishes could be made without the aid
Of reeds or grass.
There was plenty of material at hand
and it rs safe to presume that the pots
and dishes were not very long lived.