Kansas
Fort Wayne Sentinel, (Fort Wayne, Indiana) November 28, 1897
Fought Ages Ago
Prehistoric Battlefield Found in Indian Territory.
Thousands of Skulls Dug Up With Arrow Points in Them-An Important Archaeological Discovery.
Wichita, Kas. Nov. 29-The greatest prehistoric battle and burying ground yet discovered in the United States has just been found near the little town of Redlands. I. T. It lies on the northern border of the Choctaw Indian reservation and near the Arkansas River.
Prof. Edwin Walters, the archaeologist who discovered it, states that from extensive excavations he has made he believes that nearly 100,000 warriors met death at that point and that the battle occurred 20,000 years ago. He goes a step further and declares the battle was fought between the mound builders and the Maya Toltec race, the latter coming from Yucatan and striving to wrest the Mississippi valley from the mound builders.
The battleground is thirty acres in area and by a series of excavations Professor Walters has satisfied himself that there are nearly 3,000 skeletons to every square acre. His estimate as to the remoteness of the prehistoric conflict is formed by a study of the geological structure of the formation in which the skeletons are found. The bones are buried near the top of deep strata of sand and covered first with a sort of adobe, a formation of the quaternary period, then with alluvial topsoil.
They have been dug out by the carload and almost every skull has from one to five arrow points sticking into it. Sharp arrow points and javelins are also found embedded in other bones of the body and the great number of these instruments of warfare that have been unearthed leave no doubt in the mind of Professor Walters that he has found what was once a field of awful carnage.
The skulls have narrow, retreating foreheads and projecting chins and the skeletons vary greatly in length, some seeming to be those of dwarfs and others of a giant race. The bodies are buried in a circle, feet toward the center and most of them in a sitting posture. At the side of each is found a clay vessel that was evidently filled with food to stay the soul of the departed warrior on his way to the spirit land.
Professor Walters has for many years been studying the mounds and battle grounds of prehistoric races found in the Mississippi valley and declares that the mound builders established a line of defense from Omaha, Neb., south of the gulf of Mexico in their efforts to repel the invasion into their territory of the warlike race of Toltec Maya.
Davenport Daily Republican, June 21, 1898
Scene Of A Big Battle
Interesting Discovery on a Farm in Eastern Kansas-Signs of a Prehistoric Race
J.T. Williamson, a farmer living 13 miles west of Kansas City on the Union Pacific railway, has discovered on his place an ancient burying ground, upon finds in which he vases his belief that his farm was once the scene of a furious Indian battle. It is not an infrequent thing for farmers in counties adjacent to Kansas City to unearth a skeleton or two, and nothing is thought of it, but Mr. Williamson has made an unusual find. From time to time he has dug up skeletons until he estimates that about 30 have been taken out only a small part of his lot. Besides the bones many Indian relics have been recovered. History does not record any great battle in this vicinity, but the finding of so many skeletons is evidence that some kind of warfare existed thereabouts long ago. No one living anywhere in the vicinity can recall any civilized burying ground around there.
In addition to the Indian bones found there is evidence that the Williamson farm was once the scene of the prehistoric race of mound builders. There are four or five mounds in Mr. Williamson’s orchard, near his house, which show the art of careful building. One of these, much larger than the rest, was opened several years ago by the relic hunters of the Kansas state university, and it was found to contain some rare things. There was found the skeleton of a person in the mound. It was pronounced by the university experts the bone sof a prehistoric race. It was taken to the university, where it was carefully put together and remains there today. The conclusion that the bones are those of a prehistoric being drawn from the shape of the head, which is something like an egg. It is normal-sized skull, but the forehead shows no traces of development. From the eye sockets the crown of the head slopes back almost to a sharp point, leaving no development whatever of the forehead. The bones are in a fair state of preservation. In the mound the skeleton was found a perfect specimen of pottery, which, when the air struck it, crumbled to pieces. Besides these things two large spear heads were found.
The other mounds that are scattered through Mr. Williamson’s orchard have never been molested, but Mr. Williamson expects some day to explore them. He does not expect to find anything of value, but will open them through curiosity to learn what they contain. The discovery of the Indian bones began several years ago, when excavations were made for the foundation of Mr. Williamsons house. At that time 15 skeletons were removed in the digging for the foundation of the various buildings. From time to time one or more turned up in plowing, but another wholesale excavation of dry bones took place last week, when Mr. Williamson’s son began regarding part of their lot. They took up within 20 feet of their house, 11 skeletons. The bones were found under not much more than 2 ½ feet of earth. Some of the skeletons were partially petrified and were taken up whole, but most of them fell to pieces when they were picked up. Some of them crumbled into dust when they were touched.
The arrangement of the skeletons showed that some had been buried in confusion, while others were lying in rows and showed evidence of careful burying. There was no wood to show that any sort of casket had been used in burying the dead. Two of the bodies had been buried face downward and one had rested on its side. Nine of them were found in a row and they had been buried with their heads a little to the southeast. Buried with the skeletons were arrow heads, tomahawks, stone pipes, stone axes and a pair of silver earrings.
Several years ago Mr. Williamson unearthed the bones of what was probably a “heap big Indian chief.” Part of a fancy burial robe were sufficiently preserved to show that it was a rich silk artistically embroidered. There were silver buttons of ancient pattern on the robe and a string of silver beads found around the neck.
Marion Daily Star, April 7, 1902
GLACIAL MAN’S BONES
Important Scientific Discovery on a Kansas Farm
Made While Digging a Tunnel
The Long Looked For Proof That North America Was Inhabited By Man During the Great Ice Period Will Be Furnished It Is Believed, By This Find
The public museum of Kansas City is to be enriched by the addition of the skull and other fragmentary bones of a prehistoric men that were found a few days ago deep in a hillside of a Kansas farm ar a point about two miles in a northeasterly direction from Lansing, says the Kansas City Star. The skull and other bones and their geological environment indicate the skeleton to have been that of a primitive man of the glacial or great ice period centuries ago.
That mankind existed during the glacial period has been established by discoveries in Europe, and while it has been presumed that man also lived in America at the same time, no dubitable evidence of the fact has heretofore been obtained.
When the skull was found, it was not thought to have any scientific value. Several days ago M. C. Long curator of the Kansas City public museum, and Edwin Butts, civil engineer for the Metropolitan Street Railway company, both enthusiastic archaeologist, went to the place of the discovery and secured the fragments of the skeleton and brought them to Kansas City. Both Mr. Long and Mr. Butts are enthusiastic over the discovery. From the appearance of the skull and its position in the earth they are convinced it is that of a glacial man. If this fact be established, it will be the first proof of the kind found on the North American continent. In a short time the skull will be placed on view in the public museum. The facts of the discovery have been communicated to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
The find was made on the farm of Thomas and M. Cohncannon. T
hey were digging a tunnel into a grerat hill on their farm with the purpose of using the excavation as a storage place for apples and other fruits. They dug directly into the side of the hill. The skull was found about sixty five feet in. Other bones of the skeleton were beside it. One of the farmers drove a pickax through the skull in loosening it from its stony bed, and later bones fell on it, so that it was broken into half a dozen pieces, but Mr. Long has cemented it together. The skull is that of a man with hardly any forehead. Directly back from the eyes receads the frontal bone. The fragments found shop he had a big jaw. The skull is very thick and strong, and its back part is broad and well developed. The phrenologist avert that this development at the back shows an abnormal nature. But there is no noble dome, no high and rounding forehead, that shows the development of intelligence.
The skull practically intact, a portion of the lower jaw, a part of a thigh bone and several other fragments were found. The bones indicate the man to have been large. The head is small. The orbits for the eyes are close together and appear exceptionally large. Over the orbits are well developed ridges that probably denote perceptive faculties. The bones were found huddled together. They lay partially imbeded in hardpan. A close and exhaustive investigation showed that the various strata of rocks and soils and the “water marks” had never been disturbed vertically and neither had there been any lateral disturbance of the hill. The skeleton evidently had been deposited there before the great mass of rock and soil above and about it. Had mound builders or Indians ever dug deep into the hill they could not have avoided leaving traces of their excavation.
“When we first heard of the find, we deemed it the usual story of a ‘mound burial,’ said Mr. Long the other day. “our investigation shows beyond all doubt that is a skeleton of a man of the glacial period.. After a most exhaustive investigation, Mr. Butts and I reached the conclusion the skeleton was deposited there during the glacial period or drift. How long ago the ice period was is not definitely known; 50,000 years perhaps; perhaps much longer.
“The evidence is very conclusive that this was not a burial or intrusive deposit, as there was no evidence of any disturbance of the earth. The great depth at which the skeleton was found precludes any idea of a usual burial, and the stratification of the earth both over and under the skeleton shows that the bones lay ther while the mass of soil was deposited over them. Attached to the skull is a kind of stony formation or cement, such as is usually found attached to bones of the mastodon and quite similar to the formation found in the jaws of the mastadon in the public museum.”
Mr Long says that the ground around which the skeleton was found shows, conclusive evidence of its glacial formation. Comparison of this skull with photographic illustrations of the skull of the “Man of Spy,” a famous skeleton found in a cave in Belgium, shows them to be practically alike.
Kentucky
Counties of Todd and Christian Kentucky,
Historical and Biographical, 1872 There are numerous mounds in Todd County, but to which of these classes they should be assigned it is difficult to determine from the meager accounts to be gained of them. But one or two have been examined, and these with insufficient care. Skeletons of extraordinary size were found, the skulls of which were passed over the head of the large man, and rested easily upon his shoulders.
Collins Historical Sketches of Kentucky, History of Kentucky, Lewis Collins, 1874 Ohio County
Simpson County
Antiquities-A Giant-From a mound on the farm of Eden Burrowes, near Franklin, were exhumed, in may, 1841, at a depth of over 12 feet, several human skeletons. One, of extraordinary dimensions, was found between what appeared to have been two logs, covered with a wooden slab. Many of the bones were entire. The under jaw-bone was large enough to fit over the jaw, flesh and all, of any common man of the present day. The thigh-bones were full six inches longer than those of any man in Simpson County. Teeth, arms, ribs, and all, gave evidence of a giant of a former race. Around his neck was a string of 120 copper beads, and one beads of pure silver, all perfectly preserved. Another skeleton, of smaller dimensions, had around his neck a string of ivory beads, about 100 in number. The string, which had held the beads, was still apparent, though time had destroyed its consistence. Butler County
Mounds and Cave-On the farm of Judge T. C. Carson, 7 miles below Morgantown, are several mounds-one 8 or 10 feet high, covering between a quarter and half an acre of land. No bones have been found in it; but from a smaller one, a umber of bones belonging to a giant race have been takenjaw bones which would go over the whole chin of a man, and teeth correspondingly large; the teeth remained sound, but the other bones crumbled on exposure to the air. In Saltpeter Cave, I the Little Bend of Green River, a number of such bones were found.
Harlan County Antiquities-The first courthouse in Harlan County was built upon a mound in Mount Pleasant-upon, which, in 1808, the largest forest trees were growing. In August, 1838, a new court house was erected upon the same mound, requiring a deeper foundation and more digging-with these discoveries: human bones, some small, others very large, indicating that the bodies had been buried in a sitting posture; several skulls, with most of the teeth fast in their sockets, and perfect; the skull of a female, with beads and other ornaments which apparently hung around the neck. Close by the larger bones was a half gallon pot, superior in durability to any modern ware; made of clay and of pearl winkles pounded of powder; glazed on the inside, and the outside covered with little rough knots, nearly an inch in length.
Allen County
Antiquities-In the west end of the county, about thirteen miles from Scottsville, and seventeen from
Bowling Green…
At the west side of the narrow pass, and immediately at its termination, there is a hill similar to the
one on the east. Here is to be seen a small mound forty feet in circumference and four feet high. Upon
excavating one side of this mound, a stone coffin was dug up two and a half feet long, one foot wide
and one foot deep, with a stone covering-the top of the coffin projecting one inch beyond the sides.
Upon opening the coffin, the arm and thigh bones of an infant were found in it. This coffin being
removed, others of larger dimensions were to be discovered, but were not removed. Many very large
human bones have been exhumed form mounds in this county-some of the thigh bones measuring form
eight to ten inches longer that the race of men now inhabiting the country.
Carroll County
Antiquities--…There are a number of mounds in the county, but generally of small size. In 1837, one
was examined in which was found the skull and thigh bones of a human being of very large frame,
together with a silver snuff box, made in the shape of an infants shoe. On an elevated hill, a short
distance from the Kentucky River, in opening a stone quarry, the jaw bone and a large number of
human teeth were found; and on the points of the ridges, generally, similar discoveries have been made.
About four miles from Carrollton, on the Muddy fork of White Run, in the bed of the creek, on a
limestone rock, is the form of a human being, in a sitting posture; and near by, is the form of one lying
on his back, about six feet long, distinctly marked.
Collins Historical Sketcher of Kentucky Vol.II, History of Kentucky, 1874,
Madison County, Kentucky Ancient cemetery- A race of giants on five high points on Caldwell Campbell’s farm, and on a farm of Samuel and Walker Madison, adjoining, 8 miles southwest of Richmond, are burial grounds of prehistoric inhabitants- in all embracing fully 3 acres. On one part, about one and a half acres, have been discovered the skeletons of giants- The femur, tibia, skull, and inferior maxillary bones so large, when compared with the size of the late John Campbell (himself 6 feet 4 inches high) as to indicate a race 7 to 8 feet high. John Campbell slipped the inferior jawbone of one entirely over his own, flesh and all
.
New York Times, February 8, 1876
THE EARLY AMERICAN GIANT The public will be unpleasantly reminded of the callous indifference to the future on the part of the prehistoric Americans by the recent discovery of three unusually fine skeletons in Kentucky. A Louisville paper asserts that two men lately undertook to explore a cave which they accidentally discovered not far from that city. The entrance to the cave was small, but the explorers soon found themselves in a magnificent apartment, richly furnished with the most expensive and fashionable stalactites. In a corner of this hall stood a large stone family vault, which the men promptly pried open. In it were found three skeletons, each nearly nine feet in height. The skeletons appear to have somewhat frightened the young men, for, on seeing so extensive collection of bones, they immediately dropped their torch, and subsequently wandered in darkness for thirty-six hours before they found their way back to daylight and soda-water.
Now, it is evident that these gigantic skeletons belonged to men very different from the men of present day. A skeleton eight feet and ten inches in height would measure fully nine feet when dressed in even a thin suit of flesh. The tallest nine-foot giant of a traveling circus is rarely more than six feet four inches high in private life and without his boots, and even giants of this quality are scarce and dear. The three genuine nine-foot men of Kentucky must have belonged to a race that is now entirely extinct, and hence it would be a matter of great interest if we could learn who and what they were.
Many mounds and a henge are still visible in Madison County, Kentucky. This mound is several miles south of Richmond. From The Nephilim Chronicles, A Travel Guide to the Anceint Ruins in the Ohio Valley.
The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley Page 33
