Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-08-11

nants of fire, mixed with oyster
shells. Were these the evidence of
annual tribal feasting or was there
an oyster industry, with constant
factory-working system? The latter
conjecture has for it's foundation,
survival among later tribes, illus
trated in the Peabody Museum by a
string of forty oysters secured on
three fine sticks used as skewers,
which were slowly dried and smoked,
probably over low grill of twigs
underlaid by embers and bark or
green wood for smoke. These we
have illustrated by water-color
sketch OF the same size and color aa
the museum specimens.
Mr.. Skinner, an authority on such
matters, speaks Of marauding tribes
of Iroquois, demanding tribute of
dried oysters and wampum."
1t seems probable that industries
and arsenals were not unknown to
this primitive people. This is illus
trated by the great refuse heaps of
flint in Rock Crook Park, in Wash
ington and Of a huge arsenal of
Stone Age finished war axes and
fints to the number of 1000 pieces
recently found near Manchester,
England.
1t is interesting to have a reason
able explanation for the preserva-
tion of bone and deerhorn specimens
found with stone implements, which
might otherwise challenge the evil
dence of their coincident antiquity.
The large number Of interesting
specimens made of bone and deer
NIL To- 30 iyH%4
cludes several so-called "flickers,"
piece of the spongy deer antler
shaped to be grasped by the right
hand with the smaller and betelled
like the end of ones thumb and used
to press against the roughly mod
elled flint arrow or spear head, held
in the left hand, and thus Ticking off
small chips of flint, leaving sharp
cutting edge, keen as that of broken
glass.
Pottery.
The Algonquin race did not excel
in fine pottery as the Indians of the
south and west did, but had a SIM
pier type than even the Iroquois of
upper New York, some of whose pot
terry has been found in Algonquin
graves and shell heaps, believed to
have been brought by barter or ma
rauding expeditions.
Fragments in large number are
found in shell heaps often broken In
to bits an inch OF two in size. These
should be kept in separate groups
when found, so as to aid in the re-
storation of complete pots.
The quality of clay and decora-
lions are a good guide to the muse
UNI worker Fragments of the rim
are of special value in deciding the
size and use of the vessel. Every
fragment, however insignificant,
should be brought to the museum Or
park office in Bar Harbor for study.
The Lafayette National Park col
lection is growing steadily, due TO
the great interest taken by the boy
scouts and other friends as well as
by additions from the homes OF ma
tive families who are becoming IA
miliar with what the museum will
mean to an understanding of this
fascinating topic.
1t is intended never to enlarge the
scope of this collection beyond a
demonstration of the purely local
Stone Age findings in the park pre-
cincts At present I have regarded
all articles as sacred "loan" to this
collection until we can safely house
it in small, well-designed, fireproof
building, appropriately placed, where
all can enjoy it, and associated with
a collection of relief maps and others
giving charm to the study. The en-
tire scheme will never be allowed to
grow beyond the space of one large
room, planned for comfort and edu-
cational effect, in the Lafayette Ma
tional Park interest.
AS the original properties COM
posing the park were transferred to
the government by gifts Of many far
sighted lovers Of this region, 1t is
hoped that our own generation of
summer and winter residents will
aid in helping the writer to COM
plete this engaging scheme.