The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-05-25
MAY Be KEY TO
ANCIENT CULTURE
Find Relics Belonging to Hitherto
Unknown Indian Tribe.
SOME OBJECTS ARE UNIQUE

of the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, which
Egyptologists expect to yield mass
Of new material about the culture Of
the Nile, psychologists have found in
this country remains Of prehistoric
culture, supposedly that Of hitherto
unknown Indian tribe, which, 1t Is be-
lieved, will throw new light on the
lives of the inhabitants of this coun-
try before the arrival of the white
man.
George G.. Heye, director Of the
museum of the American Indian, Heye
foundation, New York, has character
lied the discovery Of these remains as
the beginning Of a new chapter in
American archaeology" Unearthed in
rock shelters in Missouri and Arkansas
by the expedition Of the Museum of
the American Indian, some Of the OBJ
jscts are unique, and others are Of
type not known hitherto to have been
used by the early inhabitants Of this
section of the country.
The articles offer the scientist allur-
ing clues which may require months
to follow to any solution. But even
the unscientific observer can see in
them the beginning Of an absorbing
story. Mr.. Heye selects as one Of the
most important subjects for study a
complete hoe, with a wooden handle
and the shell Of 4 large fresh water
clam for q blade. No such implement
has been discovered before.
Almost equally interesting are two
complete hatchets and q throwing
stick" The collection also includes a
large assortment Of hne woven bags
and baskets, a well-preserved buckskin
Logging and moccasin, two mummifed
tables, and a large assortment Of other
things the use Of which has yet to
be determined.
First Of Their Kind.
These articles are of especial signif-
canoe, because they are the first Of a
perishable nature found so far to the
east of the United States, with the.
exception of those discovered In the
Salts cave In Kentucky. Hitherto such
quickly decaying objects as textiles,
basketry and woodwork have not been
found east of the arid region, for the
reason that In the rainy parts Of the
country they could not Withstand
weather conditions.
The preservation of these newly dis
covered objects was due to the fact
that the prehistoric people who used
them lived In rock shelters, and when
the articles were discarded or buried
the overhanging rocks prevented the
rain from reaching them.
Most of the discoveries were made
In the White river valley of Arkansas
and Missouri. Three years ago M. R. |
Harrington, who heads the present ex- |,
pedltion, was collecting chronological |
specimens in this section, when his at
tention was attracted by native citi-
zens to objects found locally, which |
seemed to be Indian remains. Mr.. |
Harrington, who, according to Mr.. |
'Heye, can "smel an arrow ten feet |
under ground" began an investigation !
and found caves and rock shelters /
with indications of Indian occupancy. |
Actual work was not begun until last
summer. From July until November
the expedition sent out by the Muse
um of the American Indian carried on,
and resumed work again after Christ
mas. Investigations will be continued
until May, when the expedition will
return East and Mr.. Harrington will
begin the study of specimens.
Found In Dry Caves.
"The keynote Of this discovery" ex-
planned George H. Pepper Of the mu-
scum, 'is the fact that the articles
have been found in dry caves. Where
you find dry caves, you may also find
material preserved which tells an init
mate story Of life long before. In the
dry caves of New Mexico, Colorado
and Utah, the remains discovered are
desiccated. The bodies were more
perfectly mummlf1ed than in Egypt,
where artificial means were used.
"The people whose life centuries ago
we hope to work out from these re-
mains lived In shelters weathered out
on the faces of cliffs, rather than in
caves The projecting rocks thus pre-
served the objects from the rain, which
Is not infrequent in this region"
All Of the objects found were buried
in the dry earth. Some had been in
TERED with the bodies of the dead for
their use in the future life, according
to the we'll known Indian custom. .
Others, probably discarded by their ,
Indian owners, were covered by Sec |,
lions of rock which fell on them from
the overhanging rocks.
After centuries Of drought. the soil
in the shelters 10 10 dry that the ex-
cavators are compelled to use gas
masks. The earth Is dug away with
small entrenching trowels and pulver-
ICED a. carefully as pharmacist
works up q powder. When traces Of
seeds are discovered. 1t Is sifted, 80
that no minute informer Of Indian
habits may be lost. |,
The articles are then carefully
packed and shipped to the museum. :
where they arc washed and treated ,