Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-10-21

race, prove the bufth9s w pe auiuhk sne
oldest yet discovered under this conti-
nent,n and, ''lf the generally accepted
theory OF the comparatively recent east
ward migration OF the Algonquin tribes
which inhabited New England at the adj
vent OF Europeans be correct, the burisls
in these old cemeteries cannot be at
tributed to that people," He notes the
similarity of some of the polished slate
implements to those OF the Eskimo.
He cites the extensive use OF red ochre
by the extinct Beothuks, or Red Indians,
whom Cartier and other early explorers
found on the coast OF Newfoundland. and
some OF their somewhat similar customs
of burial, but he offers no definite conciu-
sion as to who made these old graves In
the Penobscot valley.
MIR. Moorehead states; at is our con-
viction that the graves represent an
ancient and exceedingly primitive culture,
totally different from that OF the later
Algonquin tribes inhabiting the REGION"
and ssThere ia total absence OF the fol-
lowing we'll known Penobscot and Abnaki
types: The grooved axe; grooved ham
mer; pottery, soapstone dishes and orna-
ments; pierced tablets Of the common
forms; few, IL any, thick celts; mortars
and pestles; pipes; beads bone imple-
ments. There are very few OF the small,
ordinary Clipped arrowheads. Clipped
spearpoints and an occasional arrowhead
are found, but most OF the projectile
points are OF polished slate"
The implements supposed to be peculiar
to this period are those long, slim, hexs-
gonal lance heads, and the so-cailed Pc
nobscot type of long pendants. Other
characteristic objects are piummets, in
great numbers; gouges, celts; lenticular,
slate knives or spearheads; polished slate
arrowpoints; hammerstones and fire.
stones.
THE PRE-EsKAR PERIOD.
Those long, glacial ridges OF more or
less stratified sand, gravel, clay, and
boulders, running somew hat irregulariy,
bat for the most part paralIeiing the river
are generally called eskars.
They are seen to good advantage at sew
ersl points between Bangor and Old
Town.
The very few implements here referred
to this period have been found on or in
these deposits. They are supposed to
have been manufactured before the forma-
tion OF these ridges, hence the term OF
Pre- Eskar for this period.
In dozen years collecting have found
less than that number of specimens which
can with any assurance be assigned to this
period, but the evidence offered by a
single specimen IL rightly interpreted
should be as convincing as a multiplicity
OF such objects. II read Alright these arti-
facts denote an extremely remote time OF
mans existence In this region.
SIGN OF AGE.
The reasons for considering them so
ancient are the signs Of age offered by the
specimens themselves and by their ioca-
tion in these Eskars, the superstition be-
ing that their worn and weathered APP
pesrance has been caused by the same
agencies which has rounded and smoot he'd
and weathered the pebbles with which
they are associated. Abrasion carried a
little further would rob them OF all recog-
nizable marks OF mans work, and their
identity as such would be lost in that OF
the surrounding stones, some of which we
may even suspect-but cannot prove-to
have been used by man.
The feat, poorly-chipped blade was &C.
found in digging into the face
OF bluff about four feet from its top.
The rynufarfaI in a Ann
quartz porphyry. 1t Is much worn and
the great extent OF its weathering is well
shown at the broken end.
The other specimens are either of quartz,
or minerals OF like hardness. One is a
surface find, the other from eighteen
inches below. Both were found at q
height OF more than one hundred feet
above high water; both are worn very
smooth, but that this wearing did not
come from their continued use as
weapons or tools is plain in the case OF
the perforator-like object, since its long
ago broken end, which untitled it for a
tool, shows the same wear and patinaza-
tian as the remainder OF its surface.
do not claim that the Pre- Eskar period
is pre-giacial, as there are some indica-
lions that the waters of the Penobscot
have at some prehistoric time been held
back by a natural dam, and that there
may have been Encouragement OF its ma 4
terials in post-glacisl times.
Weathering or those changes made by
'the gnawing tooth OF time'', is an i'm
portant factor in determining the relative
ages OF prehistoric relics. 1t may be said
in general that the weathering OF any
stone artifact is proof OF considerable
antiquity, but the amount of weathering
depends largely upon the exposure which
the material has had to the action OF sun,
rain. wind and frost; to its proximity to
substances, to the effects
Of forest fires, etc.
Some substances, such as flint, agate,
jasper and other varieties OF quartz are SO
resistant to weathering that centuries of
exposure produce little change except