The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1905-10-04
GRAVEYARD
LARGEST PREHISTORIC BURIAL.
GROUND FOUND:
Cemetery Of an did Race Is uneartned
on Arkansas River in Indiah
Territory-Extends. Dis
lance of Two Miles.


Guthrie. 0kia.=A report was made 10
the chronological department at Washs
Ington recently of the discovery at Web
bef's Falls. On the Arkansas river, IA
Indian territory; of the largest prehis-
torie burial ground found thus far oh
the American continent Webber's
Falls is located ON the river about rs
miles south and east of the Old army
post at Fort Gibson. The burial ground
is more than two miles in length and
Contains the bodies of many thousand
people. presumably the remains Of
Mound Builders, and for this reason the
discovery is considered all the more i'm
portant in that it may lead TO something
definite regarding that prehistoric peo-
pie;
Up until 40 years ago the land on
which these remains were found was
covered by a heavy growth of timber,
some Of the trees exceeding five feet in
diameter. and also a thick growth Of
cane. A great part of the timber has
been cut and the land placed Under cut
tivation. In digging wells and other
excavations human remains have been
hnearthed many times during the past
few years, but causing little comment
as they were supposed to be the re-
mains of Indians. Where the land along
the benches near the Arkansas river
bottom has been cultivated the heavy
rains have caused washOuts in places,
bringing human remains to view IN
localities widely apart.
A few weeks ago d. A. McCorale, an
educated Indian of the Creek tribe, made
discoveries on his farm, and Informed
the editor of the Fort Gibson Post re-
garding them. This led to an investiga-
ton. which revealed the fact that this
burial ground extends for more than
two miles along the river, parallel with
the river. the graves being in regular
order. about four feet apart, CORE
spending with points Of the compass.
The dead people were buried facing
the east, all in the same posture or
position. With each was found an
earthen bowl. in every instance being
held in the bend of the right arm. In
most cases the bones and bowls crumble
when exposed to the air for a short
time, but some were in fair state of
preservation,
In no instance. save one. was any im-
plement of war found, and that was a
spearhead about nine inches long. in
the grave of a man apparently seven
feet tall, while the other figures Ners
below the average height of the Amer
lean people of to-day.
A remarkable feature was the thick
ness of the skulls. some exceeding a
half inch in thickness. with receding
foreheads and heavy back heads.
According to Prof. Edwards, promi,
nent archaeologist, who visited the ter.
ritory to investigate discovery at Red
land. other graves in this locality were
those of people who died 10000
years ago. The discovery at Redlapd
was that of an immense battlefield
where Prof Edwards claimed occurred
the greatest battle ever fought on Amer
lean soil. He expressed his belief thai
the battle took place 10000 years ago
thousands of men being killed. RedlanC
Is about 25 miles lower down the river
from the burial ground recently discov
cred at Webber's Falls.
Prof. Edwards made a statement a
that time that the geological history %
the American continent possibly datet
back about 2OO.O0O.OOO years. in which
there were II periods, during each .
which the face of the continent wal
changed.