Evening star., 1937-05-29
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,

The ancient history" Of Kansas will
be investigated this Summer by Smith
sonian Institution archeologist.
An archaeological reconnaissance is to
be conducted under the leadership of DR..
Waldo R. Wedel of the Smithsonian staff.
Its object will be to get clearer picture
of the various elements which entered
into the widespread horticultural cul-
ture which persisted in the Plains
States very nearly to the time when the
first Spanish explorers penetrated the
country.
Through the greater part of its his
tory Kansas has been farming State"
The wild West" was but passing epi-
sode. Evidence that sedentary, peace
loving farmers preceded the war-like.
bison-hunting tribes in this part of the
country first was uncovered few years
ago by the researches of DR.. Duncan
Strong OF the Bureau of American Eth
nology In Nebraska. There is every rea-
son to believe that Kansas will present
a similar picture, but with local varia-
tions which may provide missing links.
DR.. Wedel will start his work at site
of exceptional interest few miles from
Kansas City. Here there have been
found recently pottery of the typical
"Hopewell" type. The "Hopewell' was
the highest manifestation of the superior
primitive culture Of the long mysterious
Mound Builders, whose great structures
throughout the Middle West once were
among the most discussed wonders Of
the New World.
Recent discoveries have shown this
Mound Builder pattern extending all
along the Gulf Coast and up the Missis-
sippi Valley-probably the route along
which 1t progressed. But no evidences
of it hitherto have been found so far
West as Kansas City. There is possi-
bility that it will be found to tie in with
the old plains agriculture uncovered by
DR.. Strong and to form link between
this and the farming culture Of the
great Muskogean area along the Gulf.
There also is possibility that this
Western Hopewell extension may be
found to fit into some archaeological
chronology which will make possible a
more definite dating of the days of the
Mound Builders. At present this Is
largely problematical.
DR.. Wedel will look out especially for
the remains of a Mound Builder" house.
The great mounds, it must be kept in
mind, were not dwelling sites, but burial
places and religious centers. Their
builders may, or may not, have lived In
the immediate neighborhood. Thus far
their type of habitation Is almost COM
plete mystery, although a few possible
house sites have been uncovered. The
site near Kansas City was purely DWELL
ing place. There Is no mound in the
immediate neighborhood.
Later it Is planned to explore the
drainage areas of the Kansas, Arkansas
and Neosho Rivers in search for In
dian habitation Sites Indian migrations,
like those Of the white men who Sue
ceeded them, tended to follow river
courses. An inviting possibility, DR..
Wedel points out, is to trace back the
history Of the Kansas tribe Of Indians
who occupied much Of the territory at
the time OF the first white explorations.
Three sites of this tribe have been 10
cated-one occupied in 1900, one in TOO
and one probably at an earlier date.
The Kansas tribe belonged to the great
Siouan stock, who presumably swept into
the West from the East shortly before
the coming Of the white men and gave
q death blow to the settled farming
culture. There Is possibility that the
Kansas sites may make 1t possible to
trace them back to their origins. :
Many years ago there were found In
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