The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-05
LITTLE OF ANTIQUITY
DISCOVERED IN PERU
Expedition Reports There Are
No Indications Of Pre-
historic Man.
NEW LIGHT ON INDIANS
Search Remarkably Successful
in Adding to Records.
Of Customs.
NEW LIGHT ON INDIANS

WASHINGTON. April l.-The Smithsor-
Ian institution has Just issued q second
report concerning the field work Of DR..
Ales Hrdlicka Of the National Museum.
carried on in Peru during the past year
In connection with the Panama Cali
fornia Exposition at San Diego. FOR
which a very important exhibit in phys
ical anthropology is being prepared
The Investigations extended over several
hundred miles OF the Peruvian coast
and over hitherto UNEMPLOYED regions IN
the western Cordilieras. The objects
Of this trip. which occupied the first
four months OF 1913. were to determine
the relations OF the ancient Peruyiars
OF the mountains with those OF the coast
and to extend the Investigations which
DR.. Hrdlicka has carried on for many
years, regarding Indian and especially
pre-Columoian pathology. dating back
about 500 years.
The results Of the expedition failed
70 strengthen the theories OF the an
tiqulty OF man In Peru, but tended 70
prove the contrary. Aside from the
cemeteries or burial caves Of the com
mon coast or mountain people and their
archaeological remains, there was not
s'gn OF human occupation of these
regions. Not a trace suggesting any
thing older than the well represented
pre-Coiunbian Indian was found any,
where: and neither the coast nor the
mountain population. so far as studied.
can be regarded as very ancient In the
regions they Inhabited.
Expedition successSul.
The expedition was a very strenuous
one hut proved remarkably successful.
Z Mas r1t.
ruins. large percentage OF which were
previously unknown TO science. were
examined and over thirty boxes of skulls
and other material for future study
were collected for the United States
National Museum and the museum at
San Diego.
The writer reports that skeietal ma
ter!al. which formerly abounded IN Peru
and Ia essential to scientific research. Is
fast disappearing, and IN a few years
cannot he gathered without the expen-
diture Of much time and money
The results OF the expedition viii
prove OF unusual value to anthropology.
While some OF the links OF the chain OF
evidence are still wanting. Il can now
be said with certainty that the Peruvian
coast from Chlclayo. In the north, TO
Yauca. In the south-a distance Of over
500 miles--was peopled predominantly
before the advent OF the whites. by the
same physical type OF Indian. These
Indians were of medium height. with
short and broad skulls and moderately
ia strongly developed muscles. accord
Ing to the locality. The most important
fact ascertained in this connection was
that both the Ch.mu and NasCas, two
~ the foremost cultural groups OF an
Client Peru. were identical and. as re-
CARDS physical characteristics. insepa-
rable parts OF this coast people.
According 20 their location, the peo-
pie OF old Prru were either fishermen
or farmers They seem to have been
organized into numerous political
groups. which developed smaller or
grenter cultural differences according
to environment and other influences.
dwellings, Made OF Reeds.
Some OF their smaller dwellings were
made OF reeds while larger structures
were built Of small uncut stones. sim
dried brick or blocks OF adobe Their
knowledge Of weaving. pottery making
! and decoration was surprising. They
wove from native cotton and llama wool
and their designs indicate the changes
brought about by time and other In
! fiuences. The native dress consisted
principally OF poncho shirt. loin
cloth and sandals, with simple head
gear.
The pre-Columbian Peruvlans Of the
coast knew the uses OF gold. silver and
copper and worked these metals 10
some extent. especially copper. In the
manufacture OF weapons. Their con.
mon weapons were 4 metal or stone
mace. wooden club. copper axe and
knife, the sling. aud In some regions the
bow and arrow. Their implements were
the whorl. weaving sticks. looms. cac-
tus spine or bone needle holders, sharp
ened sticks. copper nnives and axes.
hoes and fishing parapherral!". !rc,ud-
ing nesta. sinkers, reed bundle boats
or baisas and peculiar RATS which were
padded.
Throughout the whole territory along
, the coast the people deformed the heads
Of their infants by applying pressure 20
The forehead. probably by means Of
bandages and pads. which process fiat
tened the back OF the head as we'll
They did not practise fllnR cutting or
| chipping the teeth or other mutllutions
which would leave marks on the shel-
! etons
| II Ia interesting 20 know that these
natives acem TO have been compare
/ lively free from general bodily ailments
before the advent ~ the white men,
although they suffered from several
peculiar local diseases Affecting the
| hip bone, the head and the ear.
Early Indiana GrasshUppcr.