The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-05-12
FINDS MANY STRANGE RELICS.
N. n. Winchell Explores Long Buried
City Near Mankato.

ManKatO.-That race superior IN
the arts of civilization lived in south
ern Minnesota previous to the Indians
who inhabited it the last few centuries
is shown by the findings of Professor
N. H. Winchell of Minneapolis, the
state geologist, in Cambria township,
twenty miles northwest of this city
The people even had ivory, and guam,
titles OF broken pottery were found
The fact that ivory was found indi,
Gates that these people lived when
elephants inhabited this section-not
the mastadons-but elephants much
as they are known today. This was
not long after the glacial period.
The relics were mostly three or four
feet underground, many layers OF soil
having covered the former residing
place. The site of the city or village
covers several acres, and is perfectly
level, while the surrounding country is
more or less rough.
Now a Corn Field.
The route lay through and old corn
field, the loose soil of which was thick
ly strewn with flint chips and small
pieces of pottery. The real finds were
not, however, made until the work with
the shovels began, and as these loos-
ened the earth the relics of long de-
parted race were brought to view.
The greater number of pieces found
were crumbling bones of animals, in
Guiding the shoulder blades of buffalo.
the hoofs of elk, jaw bones of many
animals, squirrels, coons, bears and
beavers being represented, and also the
lower jaw of a horse. The ancients
seemed to have lived well. Some
pocket gopher mounds were searched,
and the collection of teeth was COM
pleted by the finding of human molar
which gopher had brought up from
under ground. Innumerable bones of
birds and fish were found, and fish
scale of immense size.
Pottery Finds Valuable.
While not the most numerous, the
pottery finds were the most valuable
from an archaeological point of view.
Some of the pieces were from the rims
of jars and were artistically decorated
with various patterns. No two pat
terms were alike. The pottery had the
shape of much of that unearthed in the
excavations of ancient Greece.
Arrow heads, some big for big
game, and some very small, for the
killing of birds, and spearheads and
stone Ratchet heads were found, and
also the rude whetstones with which
they had been sharpened. A flint
knife, a scraper made from large
and flattened fish bone, a broken ham
mer and celt, or hammer head that
was held in the hand when used, were
found. Several boiling rocks were al
so picked up, but soon crumbled into
sand from age.
Clay, Iron and Limestone.
Most of the relics were found in
great quantities of ashes. Professor
Winchell took a satchel full of relics
home with him. In examining the sur
rounding geological conditions, PROBES
sor Winchell found deposit of creta-
cious clay, which is the material from
which the pottery was manufactured,
and may have accounted for the pres
ence there of the city. He also found
fragment of iron ore from the Yer
million range and limestone from the
deposits near Winnipeg.
Professor Winchell's party included
several professors of the Mankato nor.
NAL school and other leading citizens.