Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-06-18
old Ihu.AN RACE
"Red Paint Problem" Is interest
ing ArcheoIogists.
Explorations in me State Of Maine
Have So Far Been lnccnclusiVe.
But viii Co On.


Since the recent donation to the
state Of Maine of u 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
teresied 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. W.lloughby OF the Pea
body museum. Harvard university,
explored the mound at Lake Ala
moosook in Orland Mr.. Sugden. a
much interested onlooker. Prof.
Warren X. Moorehead OF the depart
ment of archaeology OF Phillips-An-
dover academy also began explora-
iions In Orland.
i So interested did Mr. Sugden he
come In Indian exploration work that
during the past eight years he has
assisted In carrying on explorations
in nine different states.
Prot. 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 OF
very great antiquity. which were quite
different from Algonkln 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 EsQuimaux. 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
gouges. Ratchet blades, flint spears,
plummets, long pendants. fire-stones
and iron pyrites. and occasionally
Clipped 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.
Milllken not long ago TO evidences
OF the former existence OF the Red
Paint Indians in certain burial
grounds in Waterville and Winslow.
$50 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 We're spearnen. not bowmen, as
only spearheads have been found in
buralS. They had no peaceplpes.
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 n chisel
have been found More Of the Ian
guagc characters will no doubt be dis
covered as new cemeteries are ex-
cavated. No stone axes have been
found
"rhe most distinct and peculiar
trait Of these people is the use OF red
ochre from Mt. katuhdin region in
their cemeteries. the stone implements
being placed near each body in tbr
ochre Traces Of these people are
found along the PenohScot valley.
| AndroScogGin river and last summer
John T. kelliher Of Watervllle located
cemetery on the Sehasticook river
in WnSlow.'
after considering tile method OF
burial and the character of nipple
ments found in Red Paint graves
says Mr.. kelihrr we can easii!
arrive AT The conclusion that they
were OF different stock from the
historic Indian found here by the
first Europeans. since II Is we'll known
that the custom OF laying the dead IN
shallow grave and covering the
body with layer OF ochre. ar Of red
paint, was not prncticed by the Cant
has or Penohscot tribe 81 the AlSon
quin who held sway over the kenne
bec 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
graves examined.