The Colorado statesman., 1921-05-21
OLD indian RACE
"Red Paint Problem" Is interest
ing ArcheoIogists.
Explorations In the State OF Maine
Have So Far Been lneonelusiVe,
But viii Go On.

Since the recent donation TO the
state of Maine Of number OF boxes
OF relics. $500 pieces, there has been
renewed interest In the explora-
tionS going on In Maine in connection
with the so-called Red Paint Indians.
Several OF the earlier explorations
were around the town of Orland In
Hancock county. Ernest o. Sugden,
the town clerk has long been In
terested In Indian exploration work,
and has himself developed into quite
an authority on the subject.
Mr.. Sugden's curiosity In Indian ex
plorations was first aroused In 1892
when C. G. willoughby OF the Pea
body museum, Harvard university.
explored the mound at Lake Ala
moosook In orland. Mr. Sugden. a
watch repnirer by occupation, became
much interested onlooker. Prof
Warren K Noorehead OF the depart
ment of archaeology OF Phillips-An-
dover academy also began explora-
tions In Orland.
So interested did Mr.. Sugden be-
during the past eight years he has
assisted In carrying on explorations
in nine different states.
Prof Moorehead says there is In
Maine what the scientists call the
"Red Paint Problem" so-called be-.
cause OF the quantities Of red ochre
found in the graves in the cemeteries
OF these people.
"The problem relates to a people or
very great antiquity, which were quite
different from Algonkin or other tribes
known in early Maine history. The
graves are SO old that no bones re-
main. The people seem related to
the earliest Esqulmaux. Only by the
most careful hand-trowel work and
minute observation during exploration
OF cemeteries or sites occupied by
these people can we learn concerning
their culture and antiquity.
"In these graves are found peculiar
Rouges, hatchet blades, flint spears
plummets, long pendants. fre-stones
and iron pyrltes, and occasionally
chipped arrowheads, but the latter are
not frequently found"
A. H. Bridges Of Waterville, who
has long been interested in archaeol-
ogy, called the attention of Gov.
Milliken not long ago to evidences
of the former existence OF the Red
Paint Indians In certain burial
grounds In Waterville and Winslow.
so far as known. the Red Paint
men are the oldest culture OF humans
In North America" says Mr.. Bridges.
They antedated pottery, as none has
ever been found in their graves
They were spearmen, not bowmen, as
only spearheads have been found In
burials. They had no peacepipes,
so knew nothing of tobacco as the
Indians did.
Stones for striking fire are common
in graves, sheets of mica either for
looking glasses or ornament are often
found, gouges and spears and chisels
were most common Instruments OF
stone, well made and some orna-
mented.
"They had printed language Of
peculiar character as traces on chisel
have been found. More Of the lam
guage characters will no doubt be dis
covered as new cemeteries are eI-
cavated. No stone axes have been
found. 81,
1.-The most distinct and peculiar
trait of these people is the use of red
ochre from Mt. Katahdin region In
their cemeteries. the stone implements
being placed near each body in the
ochre Traces of these people are
found along the Penobscot valley,
Androscoggin river, and last summer
John T. Kelliher Of Waterville located
a cemetery on the Sebasticook river
in Wlnslow."
after considering the method Of
burial and the character of imple-
ments found In Red Paint graves"
saws Mr. Kelliher I'VE can easily
arrive at the conclusion that they
were of different stock from the
historic Indian found here by the
first Europeans, since 1t is well known
that the custom of laying the dead in
n shallow grave hnd covering the
BODY with a layer OF ochre. or of red
paint. was not practlced by the Cant
has or Penobscot tribe of the Algon-
ouin. who held sway over the kenne-
bee river regions, nor of any other
tribes of Indians In North America"
There have been discovered In
Maine IS of the so-called Red Paint
cemeteries and there have been 400
.--,,a. oxonInpd