8 'Cbc Conservative *
This class of specimens , from there
shows the highest development of art ,
exhibited anywhere in America , Peru
not excepted.
"The finest specimen of sculpture in
the National Museum , " is mentioned by
Prof. Augy , who was head of the de
partment of Natural Science in our
State University in an early day. Ho
says :
"This bust was used as a part of a
bam foundation for many years until
the museum rescued it. It was used as
a target at which the youthful progeny
of the husbandman , threw stones to
their hearts content the prize going to
the one who succeeded in knocking the
biggest piece from the battered nose of
this unfortunate work of art. "
The pipe served to perpetuate the art
of the Aborigines in sculpture and
served as an incentive to greater attain
ments ; so , many specimens of art are
preserved in this way , but the above is
quite a complete record of the images in
stone , of which a record is preserved ;
one in Tennessee and one in Arkansas ,
should probably be added to the list.
As to the uses of these images , our
most scholarly students are loath to
express an opinion , so , far be it from
me to suggest a possible solution , but
Jesse "Walter Fenkes in Sixteenth Eth.
Rep.and also in Seventeenth , 1ms much
to tell about the Tusayau provinces and
ruins in New Mexico , and in the course
of his description of the customs of
these people , he describes the corn cere
mony and other curious ceremonies ,
where their mythical deities play a part
in the ceremony. He says :
"A supernatural being or mythologi
cal conception may be represented by
Hopi priests in several ways. There
are three methods which occur to me :
First. A symbolic picture. Second.
An image. Third. A man , woman or
child to represent the Deity. "
He goes on to describe the ceremony
in full , but this article grows too long
to quote farther. In speaking of ancient
Tusayan shrines ( in Seventeenth ) he
mentions two stone images which white
men once saw and even a sketch
exists , but which are now lost or hidden ;
they are still worshipped , however.
These idols were three or four feet
high. I should like to give a full
account of these ceremonies , described
by Fewkes , as the one where a picture
or image was used suggests a possible
use for these miniature busts.
The picture or the image was put on
a wand or stick and profusely decorated.
Mr. Hovey suggests the Tusayan cere
mony as the possible use for his speci
men , you notice. It might be suggested
that these busts were stolen by the
tribes , dwelling north who trafficked
with the natives of New Mexico , and
who traversed the old Santa Fe trail ;
they may have been trafficked for , or
these tribes may have had the same
or similar ceremonies , as many eviden
ces seem to confirm.
f
The hole started in this Rooa bust
may be the work of some later owner
who wished to change it from a god to
an ornament. But let us keep in mind
that there are three busts at least in this
class , all found in the area once occu
pied by the Wichita-Pawnee tribe ( of
Quivera andHarahey ) andare miniature ,
while the Tusayan images were three
feet high.
I wrote to the National museum
about the matter and sent a photograph ,
the following is the reply :
"In answer to your request , I would
say with respect to the bust of hema
tite , a great many objects find their
way into our collections which are con
sidered by critical persons as fraudu
lent. It must be remembered there are
three periods in question respecting
every specimen found on the surface of
the ground : First. As to .its being
pre-Columbian and made by stone im
plements. Second. As to its being
post-Columbian and made with Euro
pean implements. Third. As to being
fraudulent and made to deceive. Every
ethnological object in the museum here
has had something to do with the age
of iron. The arohajological material is ,
some of it , pre-Columbian and some of
it post-Columbian and in every case the
question must be decided on its own
merits. The little hematite image does
not belong to any large class of pre-Col
umbian specimens , and may safely be
regarded as an object made by Indians
after contact. No one can tell you by
looking at an object of this kind what
its age may be in years. "
I fail to draw very much satisfaction
from it , but you must remember they
have not seen the bust itself , yet ; after
they have examined the original they
wall doubtless be prepared to pass judg
ment on it.
Knowing that Mr. Brewer has had
much experience in western archaeology ,
I submitted the bust to his inspection
and ho writes me under date of April
4 , as follows :
"The image of hematite , showing a
metallic lustre from long use and age , is
perfectly genuine ; was made by Indians ,
and its age of several centuries is indi
cated by the sure sign , that the outside
is patinated , while beneath , the surface
is blood red. The position , when it was
found and the objects with which it
was associated , will disclose the iden
tity of the maker. Similar objects are
not uncommon in the Mississippi Basin ,
and all of them appear to be pro-historic ;
at least not of recent origin. "
This is conclusive and to the point. I
have no theories to inflict. I have
simply given in this article a very brief
resume of my study of the bust question.
I have gone to the bottom of it , at least
as far as our University library will
take me. If any one knows more on the
subject , he will confer a favor by
writing me about it. I have not space
to eulogize on the rich field for research
which Nebraslca offers. Every day adds
its mite and you will wake up'some
day to realize the neglected opportuni
ties. You will see the Nebraska Historical
Society with but a handful of material
in the museum and then you will be
too late. Thousands of valuable specimens
are being ruthlessly destroyed every
year even this hematite bust was pre
served by a mere chance and now
there is yet time , by diligent activity ,
to place in the Historical Society a mag
nificent collection that will be a credit
to the state. Some day people will
realize that Nebraska stands in archffio-
logy as she does in botany and geology ,
on that great dividing line where she
partakes of both eastern and western in
fluences , and so , the richest field of all.
Why cannot something be done now ?
E. E. BLAOKMAN.
Roca , Nebr. , April 11 , 1901.
OKLAHOMA
OPPORTUNITY.
HOMES
FOR THOUSANDS
IN THE KIOWA ,
GOMANGHE
AND APACHE
RESERVATIONS I
Which are to be opened for settlement
in 1901.
THE GREAT
ROCK ISLAND ROUTE
is the only line running
to , through or near the
RESERVATIONS.
"OKLAHOMA OPPORTUNITY , "
A book describing these lands and con
dition of entry , SENT FREE.
Address ,
JOHN SEBASTIAN ,
Q.P.&T.A , ,
CHICAGO ! ILL ,
E. W , THOMPSON ,
A , GiPi&T.A , ,
TOPEKA , KAN ,
