USA > Kentucky > The prehistoric men of Kentucky : a history of what is known of their lives and habits, together with a description of their implements and other relics and of the tumuli which have earned for them the designation of Mound builders > Part 13
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The Prehistoric Men of Kentucky
from the traders from Michigan than these other counties. As the copper must have come from the North, it is very extraordinary that it should have passed over seventy miles and then been deposited so extensively in Montgomery County, and so far as known there is no line of copper deposits connecting this county directly with the regions and the peoples north of the Ohio. There may be this one explanation, that there was some tribal relation or connection between the prehistoric men in Michigan and those who inhabited Montgomery County. All the appearance of this copper shows that it came from the northern peninsula of Michigan. Copper has been found in Indiana, Illinois, and in Ohio, and its scarcity in Kentucky indicates that the traders did not penetrate this region so often as the States north of the Ohio, or even Tennessee.
Matt J. Holt, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Louisville, was at one time with the United States Geological Survey, and made extensive investigations and exhuma- tions in Montgomery County. He was enabled to gather a large number of splendid specimens, which have no counterpart in the State. Mr. Holt says that in every mound he opened in this county-and he investigated a large number of mounds-he found not a single one which did not contain some kind of copper article. Prob- ably the handsomest copper ornaments that have been found in the State are six heavy copper rings, an illustration of one of which will be found on page 228. They are made of large copper bars, hammered with great skill and with stone implements, and the ends (so as to make the curve) were carefully and skillfully turned in, meeting with perfect accuracy. The exactness of this work would indicate
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that the bars had been bent over a stone or wooden anvil. The six are of uniform size and weight, and were taken from a burial at the base of a large mound situated close to Camargo, in the southeastern part of Montgomery County. They measure in circumference over the outer surfaces eleven and one half inches.
ORNAMENTS AND OTHER OBJECTS OF HEMATITE.
Objects of hematite occur in all parts of Kentucky, yet are sufficiently rare to cause them to be eagerly sought by collectors. It is probable that the mines of the Iron Mountain district of Missouri supplied the greater part of the ore used by the prehistoric men of this State. Hema- tite relics in the author's collection include axes, celts, chisels, knives, plummets, cones, hemispheres, beads, and gorgets. The red earthy variety of this ore is frequently found in irregular masses, having facets or smoothed surfaces which suggest their use as paint stones. Red ochre, or the disintegrated ore, was highly esteemed by the aborigine as paint for personal adornment or other uses. Stone cups and small earthen vessels filled with this material are frequently found near the bodies in mounds and stone-grave burials.
Grooved axes of hematite are exceedingly rare. In the author's collection of nearly fifteen hundred axes there is only one of hematite of sufficient size to have served as a hatchet or chopping implement. There are a few very small specimens, about one inch in length, from Northeastern Kentucky, but these, if not toys for the
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children, probably served as amulets or charms. Celts and chisels of this material are usually of small size, seldom measuring more than three inches in length by two inches in width at the cutting edge. Many measure only one inch, some even less. These smaller specimens were likely fitted into a handle of some kind and used as knives or scrapers.
Of all hematite relics, the plummet or pear-shaped objects are the most interesting and display the greatest skill of the ancient worker in this material. The finer are symmetrical in form, carefully worked, highly polished, and made of the harder and more beautiful varieties of the ore. The smaller end or neck has a notch or groove, apparently for the attachment of a cord or thread. Several specimens with holes through the neck have been observed. Some have thought that these were line sinkers, used in the capture of fish. Many of the cruder specimens were, doubtless, so used, but the great care shown in the manu- facture of the finer ones indicates that they were not part of the fisherman's tackle, as the risk of loss while so employed would be too great to justify the labor re- quired to produce these objects. Yet the Esquimaux, who excel in the manufacture of fishing apparatus, have been known to expend the greatest care in making sinkers of both ivory and stone, similar to the beautiful ones of hematite found here. Foster, in his "Prehistoric Races," inclines to the opinion that these articles were used in weaving to keep the thread taut, or to pass it through the warp, suggesting that the grooves or creases were too small to admit the attachment of thread except of deli- cate proportions. We believe many of the rougher speci- mens were used as sinkers in fishing, while the finer
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forms may have served as pendent ornaments or charms. While the greater number of plummets are made of hematite, many of other materials are seen. Specimens of granite are common, and occasionally those are found made of the interior whorl of some large shell, as the conch shell.
It is almost impossible to suggest a use for a number of small objects in the form of cones and hemispheres. They have been found in every part of the State. They are generally well formed, highly polished; and never show indications of rough usage. They have a base, oval or elliptical in outline, the objects sometimes being truncated or flat on top. They are often called paint stones, but, as many made of granite and other rocks are seen identical in form with those of hematite, it is hardly likely that they were used in the manufacture of paint. A number of hematite objects are illustrated on page 229.
ENGRAVED GORGETS AND OTHER OBJECTS OF SHELL.
Among the most artistic of all prehistoric finds are the ornamental forms of shell work. Shell was used by the aborigines for various purposes. Crushed into small particles, it served to temper the paste used in the manu- facture of pottery ware. Of it were made domestic imple- ments and utensils, as scrapers, knives, celts, drinking vessels, cups, and spoons. The ornamental forms of work in shell are seen in beads, pendent ornaments of various kinds, hairpins, earrings, carved masks, and gorgets.
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The engraved gorgets are the most beautiful of all work in shell, exhibit the highest degree of art, and are most suggestive to the antiquarian of the cultural and religious status of the people who formerly inhabited the State. The curious designs upon these objects have been a source of interest and wonder, and even the casual observer must feel that these strange markings had a very definite and well understood significance to the people of the Stone Age. Kentucky has not been so prolific in these gorgets, especially those with highly conventionalized figures, as Tennessee. Perhaps the whole number of specimens dis- covered would not exceed one hundred. Among the figures seen upon these shells are the human form and face, snakes, birds, spiders, the cross, and beautifully scalloped disks. A most remarkable specimen was found in a grave at Eddyville, in Lyon County. When the Branch Penitentiary was being constructed, on the east bank of the Cumberland River, it became necessary to open a quarry in order to secure stone for building pur- poses. While the earth was being cleared away there was found, on the bluff which overhung the river, an ancient burial ground, and a large number of graves were thus removed. The exhumation of these remains created considerable excitement, and in one of them was found the beautiful gorget shown on page 239. This has been most thoroughly described by Professor W. H. Holmes in the "Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections," Volume 45, as follows:
" It is a symmetric saucer-shaped gorget five inches in diameter and made apparently from the expanded lip of a conch shell (Busycum perversum). It is unusually well preserved, both faces retaining something of the origi-
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nal high polish of the ornament. Two perforations, placed near the margin, served as a means of suspension. The back or convex side is quite plain, while the face is occupied by the engraving of a human figure which extends en- tirely across the disk. It will be seen by reference to the illustration that this figure is practically identical in many respects with others already published. It is executed in firmly incised lines and is partially inclosed by a border of nine concentric lines. The position of the figure is that of a discus-thrower. The right hand holds a discoidal object, the arm being thrown back as if in the act of cast- ing the disk. The left hand extends outward to the margin of the shell, and firmly grasps a wand-like object having plumes attached at the upper end, the lower end being peculiarly marked and bent inward across the border lines. The face is turned to the left; the right knee is bent and rests on the ground, while the left foot is set for- ward as it would be in the act of casting the disk. The features are boldly outlined; the eye is diamond shaped, as is usual in the delineations of this character in the mound region. A crest or crown representing the hair surmounts the head; the lower lobe of the ear contains a disk from which falls a long pendent ornament, and three lines representing paint or tatoo marks extend across the cheek from the ear to the mouth. A bead necklace hangs down over the chest, and the legs and arms have encircling ornaments. The lower part of the body is covered with an apron-like garment attached to the waist band, and over this hangs what appears to be a pouch with pendent ornaments. The moccasins are of the usual Indian type and are well delineated. A study of this figure strongly suggests the idea that it must represent a discus-thrower
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engaged, possibly, in playing the well-known game of chungkee." The illustration on page 239 was made from Plate XXIX of Volume 45, "Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections."
Another most beautiful piece of shell art (page 240) is one which the author secured from a gentleman resid- ing in Lincoln County. It was found in a mound near Crab Orchard Springs more than thirty years ago, and was preserved in the family of Mr. A. C. Lunsford until about two years since, when he was kind enough to let the author have it. It represents a double-headed eagle with its claws drawn up under the body. The wings and tail feathers are gracefully designed. It is made from the extended lip of some large shell, probably the Busycum perversum or conch shell, which comes from the Gulf or South Atlantic Coast. This specimen has a hard- ness of its polished surface which is very unusual. It looks almost as if it were polished ivory. It is much harder and more perfectly preserved than the average shell gorget.
A third very handsome specimen of engraved gorgets was found in Trigg County (see page 241), and is of the conventional rattlesnake pattern. The design of the work is good, its execution careful and painstaking, and it is among the largest specimens that have fallen under the observation of the author. It is seven and one fourth inches in its greatest diameter. The smaller serpent gorget on the same page was found in Southeastern Kentucky. It measures five inches in diameter. While not so large or so distinctly marked as the other specimen, it repre- sents a higher degree of skill on the part of the ancient artist. It has been said that these serpent gorgets were
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SHELL GORGET Man Throwing Discoid. From Lyon County After Holmes
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SHELL GORGET-DESIGN OF DOUBLE EAGLE Diameter, six inches. From Lincoln County
ENGRAVED SHELL GORGETS Diameter of largest, seven and one half inches
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SHELL BEADS Johnson Collection
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probably worn on ceremonial occasions, where the serpent (always a rattlesnake) played an important rôle. Magee and Thomas (" Prehistoric North America," page 357) say that the conventionalized serpent appears to have been of local origin, and confined almost exclusively to Shawnee habitats in Tennessee and Northern Georgia, and Cherokee territory in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. The small gorget on the same page, showing the design of a cross, came from a mound in Christian County. The cross is of frequent occurrence in aboriginal remains in Tennessee and Kentucky, and these remains are of an age preceding the period of contact with the whites. Efforts to connect the cross of prehistoric America with the cross of the Old World have proved futile, and the theories attempting to account for its presence among the symbols of this continent are of little value, because based upon insuf- ficient and most unsatisfactory data. Its occurrence here seems to be one of those coincidences which are occasion- ally found in the customs, ceremonies, and symbols of people of different origin and inhabiting different portions of the globe. Small crosses appear on the backs of the spider figures on page 230. These specimens were found in Trigg County upon the farm of Mrs. Ellen Rogers, who kindly sent them to the author for illustration. The scalloped disk (page 241) is a most interesting specimen, and was also found in Trigg County. Holmes inclined to the opinion that these forms might have been calendars, from the fact that similar disks are engraved on stone. A striking feature of these disks is that the outer zone usually, but not always, consists of thirteen circles. This is true of the specimen mentioned above, and of several others which the author has observed from the southern part of the State.
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Large numbers of beads of shell are found in the graves and mounds of Southern and Western Kentucky, and in smaller numbers in other parts of the State. Many are simply the smaller varieties of natural shells pierced for suspension. Others are made of the outer walls of the univalve, or from the bivalves common to all Ken- tucky streams. The finer and more beautiful beads are made of the columella of large univalves cut to the desired size, symmetrically formed, carefully polished, and pierced lengthwise for suspension. Flat button-shaped beads with a hole through the center are found in large numbers. Occasionally beads of entire pearls are seen. They were the richer and more gorgeous, and with the carved beads of shell constituted the most effective ornaments used by these people. Those who were not able to afford these more stylish and artistic forms resorted to the use of small and delicate shells, as the marginella concoidalis, making a hole for the string by grinding the outer end of the shell, thus wearing away enough of it to make an opening into the center. In burials the position of beads with the remains show that they were worn on strings about the arms and ankles, as well as around the neck. Shell bracelets and anklets are most frequently of the flat disk variety, or else composed of entire, but small, univalves. The rattling of these shells produced by the rhythmic movements of the limbs in the dance would produce sweet music to the ears of the dancers, and render this amuse- ment the more attractive and enchanting. In the author's collection are many massive beads from the southern part of the State. They are made of the columella of uni- valves, very large and heavy, and lack the symmetry of outline and beauty of finish seen in the smaller discoidal
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and barrel-shaped specimens, being merely roughly dressed sections of the central whorl, which has been pierced longitudinally. They occasionally reach a length of two and even three inches. In spite of their ungainly forms, in the eyes of the collector they are among the most prized of all shell beads.
The mounds and graves of Southern Kentucky have yielded large numbers of what are supposed to be hairpins, made from the inner whorl of large univalves, but not near- ly in so large quantities as Tennessee, which has been called the great storehouse of these as well as other ancient objects of shell. In the author's collection are several specimens made from the columella of the conch shell. The largest has a spherical head and a shaft five and one half inches long. It is very slender and symmetrical. Doubtless these forms were often used as hairpins, though an early writer refers to the use of such objects as ear ornaments.
Spoons made of the shell of the mussel are quite common. These mussel shells are found in large quantities in Ken- tucky streams, particularly in the Cumberland, Tennessee, Green, Barren, and Kentucky, and afforded an ever-pres- ent supply of material for the manufacture of spoons, beads, and various kinds of shell ornaments. The spoons are generally formed of that section of the shell which would make possible the carving of the handle for use by a right-handed man. But one specimen, found in Union County, shows that it was intended for a left-handed person. Occasionally celt-shaped implements are found. Madison County has yielded several.
Vessels and cups made of large univalves are some- times found. A cave near Glasgow yielded two large
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specimens which had been fashioned into vessels. One was provided with a hole, evidently for suspension. In another cave in Barren County was found a scalloped disk gorget made of the same species of shell.
The shells of the fresh-water mussel were used by the historic Indians of the Mississippi Valley as tweezers for plucking out the hair. By reason of the close contact and the sharp surfaces of the two valves, they would be well adapted for this purpose, and it is reasonable to believe that they were used for similar purposes by the prehistoric men. Knives and scrapers were also made of these shells. A number of specimens showing use as scrapers have been found in Salts Cave.
From the large number of shells found in Tennessee and the southern part of Kentucky, which must have come from the Gulf or South Atlantic Coast, it is an assured fact that an extensive traffic in these articles was carried on among the people of these two sections. Almost the entire high-grade product in shell work is from material brought into Kentucky from other regions. Perhaps many of these articles, especially those of ornamental form, were fashioned before their introduction here. It can be readily understood that the people of Kentucky, who had such an abundance of corn, nuts, and maple sugar, would be ready to exchange these articles for the beautifully wrought pins, gorgets, and beads made into such exquisite shapes by the men along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts; and the coming of the shell trader must have always been to the original inhabitants of Kentucky a pleasing and delightful experience, and wherever carried, these articles would find a ready sale and glad welcome in the homes of the inland men and women. It is easy
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to recall the period when the peddler with his pack was ever welcomed as a guest in the home of the countryman removed from proximity to stores, and it is reasonably certain that the shell man, among the older and younger women of the prehistoric period, would be gladly received and courteously entertained.
STONE BEADS AND RINGS.
There are many things in connection with the prehis- toric people of Kentucky to show that they were fond of ornamentation, and whether this was in pendants, gorgets, earrings, beads, hairpins or rings, all indicate by the abundance of specimens found that adornment of the per- son was no inconsiderable element in prehistoric society.
In the vast number of finds over the various parts of the State, beads are second only to arrowheads. Hun- dreds of thousands of these have been collected and dis- tributed, and it has been no unusual thing to find great strings of beads of various kinds buried with the dead. These beads were made from stone, shell, bones, clay, and sometimes from seeds or nuts. They are flat, round, small, large, short, long, and judging from the conditions which existed in regard to them it is reasonably certain that every woman, old or young, recognized beads as an important adjunct to her wardrobe; and the weight and size of many would indicate that, as in the historic Indian, these prehistoric men were accustomed to decorate themselves with beads of various kinds and hues.
As beads are very abundant, rings are very scarce. They are made of sandstone, cannel coal, and slate. Some
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have been made perfectly round, others flat on the top, something of the shape of our seal rings. Their size indi- cates that the hands of the prehistoric people were not larger than those of the present inhabitants of Kentucky. Three specimens of finger rings are shown on page 253. The larger ones on the page were probably used as ear pendants.
To show the great variety of materials used in the manufacture of beads, one frame in the author's collection, illustrated on page 251, contains beads made from banded slate, quartz, quartzite, Kentucky lithographic stone, can- nel coal, greenstone, hematite, catlinite, indurated clay, granite, syenite, crystallized limestone, sandstone, and baked clay, with several others the material of which is unknown to the author. These range in size from less than half an inch in diameter to one and one half inches. The larger ones are frequently termed spindle whorls, and it is probable that many were so used, the rod or spindle being passed through the hole in the bead or whorl, thus enabling the spinner, by twirling with the fingers, to attain a rapid and constant motion. The numerous textile fabrics woven of spun thread which have been discovered in Salts Cave indicate that in that section certainly spinning was carried on to a considerable extent.
The most beautiful of the beads of the prehistoric man of Kentucky were those made of spar, some of which are as clear as crystal, others tinted with purple, others so richly colored as to resemble the amethyst. Several of these fluorspar beads are shown on page 230. The most interest- ing of these beads is of cushion shape, having ten flattened surfaces or facets. Through this diagonally has been drilled a hole of uniform diameter throughout. The large
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flat oval bead upon the same page is made of fluorspar, beautifully tinged with purple coloring. In making the hole through this object the aboriginal lapidary had drilled from either end, the perforations not meeting with exact- ness in the middle. Upon the same page is shown a handsome barrel-shaped bead of the same material, also a disk-shaped one of rock crystal.
Many of these beads are made from the very hardest material, as quartz and rock crystal, which are removed but a few degrees in hardness from the diamond. The great amount of labor and the endless patience necessary to have wrought these ornaments with the crude imple- ments of the aboriginal stone-worker are sure indications of their great value in the eyes of the prehistoric man. The beautiful coloring in many indicates beyond perad- venture that they were designed as ornaments, and were selected because of their rare and variegated markings.
These objects range in size from those we have described, up through larger ones, reaching finally the large perfo- rated discoidal stones measuring four and six inches, which are identical in form, finish, and material with many of the beautiful specimens scarcely half an inch in diameter.
Many stone beads are of tubular form. The author's cabinet contains a beautiful specimen, which is mentioned elsewhere, made of a hard, compact red material resem- bling jasper. It has a square cross-section, and measures less than three eighths of an inch in diameter and four inches in length. Generally, elongated beads are an inch or an inch and a quarter in length. However, many measure two and even three inches and occasionally small tubes, evidently designed for use as beads, attain a length of four inches. A peculiar feature in many of the large
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spherical beads, made generally of the green banded slate, is that one side is flattened, or else provided with a groove such as is seen in many of the shorter stone tubes made of the same material, yet which were too large and heavy for use in personal adornment.
A graveyard on the Rogers farm, in Trigg County, at the point where Little River unites with the Cumberland, seems to be the greatest depository of aboriginal work. The beads from this point display a greater variety of material and more beautiful and varied forms than any other spot known in Kentucky. Though probably less than two thousand people were buried in this pre- historic cemetery, yet from this single spot many hun- dreds of beautiful specimens have been scattered through- out Kentucky and other States. In these graves were found not only these vast numbers of beads, but hundreds of other objects which had been prepared with equal skill and genius. The tomahawks, rings, gorgets, drills, spear- heads, and pipes found at this particular place all evince extraordinary skill in those who manufactured the articles. From these graves, in so far as Kentucky is concerned, it is certain that the people who lived in the immediate vicinity of this burying ground had reached the high-water mark of stone art.
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