The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-01-27

sizes and kinds, ranging in length from
onc-half incl. TO four and three-quarter
inches, with all the intermediate sizes.
The large one here exhibited was found
on the side of the hin 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 10 be found
IN the mound. There seems 10 be 10
special shape or size of them. All are
ground down to a line. 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 the method that was used in
keeping the tcol sharp. Nnen they be-
came duh by use or otherwise. they We're
rubbed on the surface of Il soft sand stone
until they We're again sharp. In this man.
ner they grew shorter with each operation.
This continual sridinr on the sand s,one
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 We're from various birds and
small animals, As will be surmised. the
method of use of these needles differed
somewhat from that of our modern steel
one. When the Indian woman OF long
ago wanted to sew. she punched holes
with her needle in the kin or leather and
drew a strip or string of rawhide through.
repeating the operation on both sides of
the articles 70 lie scwed until the lob
was complete.
A few feet down was found a pair of
Instruments tnat were used 10 take the
llsh flom 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 knob was left on the end
Tor the purpose Of fastening a thong or
strip OF @bucksk.n.
Tier 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 EBAY several lines were
made.
On the whole these indian showed a
remarkable intelligence in the manurac-
ture and use of their tools and Instruments
OF domestic economy and their pottery.
The large amount of these remains would
indicate Il thrifty and busy community.
The art of sewing was certainly very ia
miiiar 10 them, judging from the amount
o1 bone needles and the number of bones
found that We're evidently selected for
the purpose of manufacture.
n art of making pottery was the
crowning feature of this civilization, If the
sAAAs ~ h''N ll VIE 1Oli-
nection. The 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 .ound in broke fragments
in the mound. and which were used by
these Indians. 1t is probable that the dis
coNery of the art was about the same as
that of the southern Indians. The first
vessels We're made Of wicker or straw and
grass. Tho clay was then plastcred on to
protect the wicker from the 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 al hand
and it is safe to presume tina the pots
and dishes Wee not very long lived.