Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-09-12

Inc mystery of the mound builders
may be solved through the discovery
of prehistoric burial ground more
than two miles in length and contain
ing the bodies of many thousands of
persons at Webbers Falls on the Ar
kansas river in Indian Territory 1t
is the largest prehistoric burial
ground yet to be found on the Ameri-
can continent
report of the discovery has Just
been sent to the chronological depart
ment at Washington. A scientific in
vestigation and report is to be made
Immediately.
Webber,s Falls is twenty-five miles
south and east of the old army post
at Fort Gibson. Until forty 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 thick growth of cane. A great
part of the timber has been cut and
the land has been placed under eHlti-
yation.
In digging wells and in other ex-
cavations human remains have been
unearthed many times during the past
few years, but caused little comment.
as they We're supposed to be the bod
les OF Indians. Cultivation of the
land along the benches near the Ar
kansas river bottom and washouts
caused by heavy rains. brought more
remains to view in localities wide
apart.
Recently, D. A. McCorkle. an edu
cated indian of the Creek tribe, was
attracted by these discoveries en- his
farm and he informed others especial-
ly interested in such matters. This
led to aninvestigation, which revealed
the fact that burial ground evidently
antedatins the Indians, was hidden
there and that it extended more than
two miles along the river, and parallel
with it, the graves being in regular
order. about four feet apart. CORES
ponding with points of the compass.
The bodies had been buried facing
the east, all in the same posture or
position. With each was found an
earthen bowl, in every instance be-
ing in the curve of the right arm. un.
doubtedly religious rite. In most
cases the bones and bowls crumbled
when exposed to the air for a short
time, but some were in fair state of
preservation. In no instance, save
one was any instrument of war found,
and that was spear head about nine
inches long in the grave of what ap-
peared to be a giant, apparently sew
en- feet in stature or more, while the
other figures were below the average
height of Americans of today.
A remarkable feature of the skele-
tons was the thickness of the skulls
some exceeding one-half inch, with re-
ceding fcreheads and heavy back
heads, very thin in proportion.
According to Professor Edwards, a
prominent archaeologist who visited
the territory in 1896 to investigate
a discovery at Redland, other graves
in this locality were those of people
who died 10000 years ago. The dis
covery at Redland was that of an i'm
mense battlefield, where Professr Ed
wards claimed the greatest battle
ever fought on American soil was wag-
cd. He averred the battle took place
10000 years ago, $4,000 men being
killed. the mound builders being vic
torious over the Mayas. Redland is
about twenty-five miles down the
river from the burial ground recently
discovered at Webber's Falls.
Professor Edwards made a state
1nent at that time that the geological
history of the American continent
dated back about zoo ,O0O,O0O years,
il. which there were seventeen per
iods, during each of which the face
Of the continent was charged. He
saws the battle was fought ana the
dead were buried at Redland during
the quarternary period, Not long az
ter this interment they were he"Elef-
cally sealed by layer of adobe re-
sulting from a great overflow. On top
of this was loan in which mammoth
forests grew and afterward gave way
to the more recent forests, recently
cut by this generation of men.
The discovery at Webber's Falls has
attracted attention from all portions
Of the scientific world.
Since the first discovery of evi
dences of the prehistoric race known