Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-21
Of Stars, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Field, Laboratory
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henri.

~ lHOHlUS n. dGHTy.
Like cryptic writing on successive
pages Of diary, human artifacts and
animal bones stratined under the sur
face of the wind-swept plains of Western
Kansas record a broken story Of mans
occupation of the region far into the
prehistoric past. it is shown by excava-
lions conducted last summer by DR..
Waldo r. Wedel Smithsonian 1nstitu-
ton archeologist.
The country, 1t appears, has been dry
during most Of the human habitation of
North America. Consequently there were
a limited number Of places near streams
or springs where primitive man could
establish either permanent settlements
or camp sites. DR.. Wedel found three
stratif1ed layers, showing three successive
occupancies.
Scattered on the surface, uncovered
by the recent duststorms, were relics of
the so-called Dismal Greek culture
arrow heads and pottery dating from the
early historic period. The Indians ap-
pear to have been the Pawnees present
in the country when the first Span
iards arrived.
Beneath this DR.. Wedel found a layer
OF barren soil everything artifacts of the
so-called Woodland culture. This is quite
similar to the cultures of the historic
Indian tribes east of the Mississippi It
appears to have advanced thus far to
the westward long before the coming
of the white men and then retreated.
Beneath this he found another strip of
barren soil about foot thick OVERLAPPING
layer of soil interspersed with charred
and broken animal bones-apparently
the remains of some primitive kitchen
over long period. Careful search re-
vealed no artifacts. The ancient in
habitants left no ayrowheads nor frag-
ments of pottery. There were no bits
of charred corn indicating partial vege-
table diet and settled agricultural life.
This can be taken as tentative evil
dence. DR.. Wedel says. that they we're
a very early hunting people, who had
, not yet advanced even to the pottery
stage of human culture. The lack of
arrow heads or spear points was curious
in camp of hunters. and Disappointing
to the archeologist, since such artifacts
might have furnished clue to the
people themselves.
Scattered over the western plains area
there have been found in the past few
years many Yuma points and few Fol-
som points These are the peculiar stone
spear points made by the earliest known
inhabitants Of the North American con-
tinent. The Yuma points are believed to
date from slightly later period than
the Folsom points. The former are more
numerous on the plains whereas Folsom
concentrations have been found in
greatest quantities in the eastern foot
hills OF the Rockies in strata dating from
the closing days of the last ice age
It is possible, DR.. Wedel believes, that
the lowest Kansas strata may represent
camp site of the Yuma men or of some
intervening type between them and his
historic North American Indian.
The excavations were largely explora-
tory. Up to the present the archaeology
of the region has been practically un-
known. The stripping of top soil from
large areas by the recent duststorms,
with the resultant uncovering of Indian
artifacts. has spurned interest In the
pre-history Of the Western Kansas ccun-
try.
DR.. Wedel went to Kansas primarily to
investigate Pueblo ruin. There is his
torical support for the story that, fol-
lowing the Spanish conquest of New
Mexico, small band Of these apartment
house jewellers fled to Kansas and set up
Pueblo settlement. The Smithsonian
archeologist wished to determine what
influence the impact of people in such
relatively high stage Of culture had on
the less advanced plains tribes.
He found, as he had expected, traces
Of the five-room pueblo which they
had erected in the desolate plains coun-
try. They apparently had tried to re-
sumo their old way Of life and to convert
the dry region into fertile farms by
means of irrigation bitches. Fragments
Of Pueblo pottery were found and bits
of charred corn.
They were not given time, however,
to work out their destiny in their new
home. After few years a Spanish
expedition found them and forced them
to return to New Mexico. Whether their
intrusion was resented by the plains
tribes is unknown, but they certainly
failed to have any influence on the way
of living adopted by these people, which
was perhaps better suited to the dry
country.
Near the Pueblo ruins DR.. Wedel found
layer filled with remnants of the Dis
NAL Creek culture, which dated from
about the period of the Pueblo invasion.
This layer revealed no fragments of
Pueblo craftsmanship.
1t is practically impossible, DR.. Wedel
said, to date any of the strata uncovered.
The wind-blown dust is deposited and
swept away so arbitrarily that depth of
burial means nothing. Sometimes sew
eral inches of top soil will be laid down
IN few years after it has been stripped
by the wind from some area near at
hand.