The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-11-11
Ancient Indians.
Aborieinies at Our Summer Resorts 1000
Yean AGO,

~
| Yean Ago.
That the present fashionable shore re-
sorts OF the Pine Tree State were used
as such over 900 years ago is the state
ment of Prof. Frederick B. LOOMS Of
Amherst college.
Through excavations made this sum.
mer by party of Amherst professors
and students and the discovery of Indian
relics on acres of coast covered with
clam and oyster shells, both Prof. LOOMS
and Prof. John Mason Tyler, two of the
foremost authorities of the aboriginal
lie OF the country, announce that there
IS unmlstakable proof that the shore re-
sorts OF Casco Bay and Bar Harbor were
populated more than 400 years before
Coinmpus discovered America, and the
smell heaps contain definite proof of the
naDlts' methods OF living and dress of
the savage red men.
In support of this assertion, Amherst
college will soon boast an addition to it's
collection of Indian relics which will
make the latter second to none in the
country.
When, years ago, Captain John Smith
OF Pocahontas fame, sailed along the
Name coast exploring the lnlets and bays
OF the rough coast, he reported that
great crowds of savages were observed
camping on the beaches.
1t was supposed by the great, though
boastful Englishman, that these red men
had been attracted to the shore by news
of his presence along the coast, and that
the Indians had been drawn out of the
woods through curiosity as to his move
ments.
That this was not the case, but that
the coast of Maine, from Casco bay to
Mt. Desert island, was chain of settle
ments OF red men, seems to now be es-
tablished by the researches of Amherst
scientists during the past summer.
Following policy all its own, Amherst
college has for years been sending SQUADS
of instructors and students on trips of
exploration into various parts of the
country. Geological expeditions, land
exploration and the search for Indian
relics have been the annual rule of the
college.
Early IN the summer party of five,
composed of Professors Frederick B.
LOOMS and John Mason Tyler and three
students-H. B. Goodrich of Auburn
dale, R. H. Wiltse of Cortland, n Y,
and D. B. Young Of North Hanover be
gan exploring the shores of the larger
Islands of Casco bay. Great tracts of
shell heaps were located at once.
Digging into these, their depths were
found to range from six inches to five
feet, and the explorers came upon quanti-
ties of strange implements, bones of ami
mails, arrow heads and religious emblems
of crude workmanship
- These shell heaps were found to be
usually covered with turf and grass. The
shores and points of land iutting out into
| tho annaoro6 f0 no tho favo,ifo
tons for these deposits. When the actua
it excavations began the true nature o.
e these deposits began to be learned.
The first indication of what these shell
n heaps really meant was the finding o.
d quantities of animal bones. The remains
is of deer, moose, foxes and scores of small
animals were dug up. Further down wer,
layers in which stone and flint arrow
heads, bone avis, stone gouges, skinninl
> tools and spears were discovered.
Still further down, protected from thu
s rain and moisture by the turf thatch ant
closely packed layers above, were fount
the best preserved relics of all.
On Sawyer's island the party dug ovel
nearly an acre to a depth of six feet, ant
{ about 1000 specimens were found. II
q q none of these heaps was there any indi
= cation of fireplace, and this fact wa
dL OllCe IcSdIutu DIS dlIIlOSL C6TCdlu pFOO
that these locations were used by the rec
u men as summer quarters only and tina
with the return of cold weather they re
u tired into the forests.
From there up the entire coast of Main,
to Mt. Desert island, where the last tw,
weeks were spent, practical all tn
r largest of the Sc shell heaps were explor
e ed.
e These shell heaps, according to Prof
: LOOMS, are different from anything els
in the country except a few which may
:. be found on Cape Cod. They vary in sz'
S from few scattered shells to the big
Damariscotta heap, which covers five Of
six acres, and is in places twenty-five fee
deep.
a The Damariscotta pile is composed
d mostly OF oyster shells, but nearly all thu
l. other heaps are of clam shells.
Some of the most valuable results O.
e the expedition have been the information
CLEANED as to the habits of the savage
? who occupied these shore resorts.
n In several instances during the eXcava
It tons there were dug up pieces of spear
and knives of unusual design. From
their shape and material Prof. LOOMS i
certain that they were brought original,
G from the middle west 1t is believed tina
y, during wars or trading expeditions the,
q were transferred to the 1roquis Indian
n of New York and thence were passet
IS along to the Algonquins of Maine ant
h Massachusetts,.
- There were also scraps of ''squav
), knives" like those used by the Indian
of Wyoming, and their material makes i
n absolutely certain that they were brough
from the far west. There were also bon
" sticks covered with small, round spots
), These were believed to have been 'gam
ing sticks" which the owners used il
. gambling.
IA In almost every case the most popula
q shore resorts of Maine at the presen
s time were found to be sites of these grea
she'll heaps.
In all about 5000 specimens were du,
up. These will be added to the Amhers
collection
!. 1t is estimated that there are still fort
rs acres Of land along the coast Of Maine
,e which have been untouched by any ex
plorers, and it is the present intention o
I'd the college to send second expedition
which will be able to explore practicall
Of the entire coast line wherever the she
heaps are found.