Indians of North America -- Colorado; Mesa Verde National Park (Colo.)
Geologists who studied the Folsom Site felt that the bison bones had
been there in the earth at least twelve or fifteen thousand years. The
importance of the nineteen dart points was immediately evident. Since
they had caused the death of the bison there could be no doubt that men
were in the area twelve or fifteen thousand years ago. Before the Folsom
discovery archeologists had felt that men had been in America only a
short time. Now they were forced to revise their thinking concerning the
antiquity of the American Indian.
When the Folsom discovery was announced many archeologists began
searching for evidences of Folsom Man and a burning question was always
in their minds. Who would have the honor of finding Folsom Man himself?
After twenty-five years of searching, the question is still unanswered.
Folsom Man still evades his trackers for no skeletons have been found
which can be considered, without doubt, to have belonged to him.
Evidences are plentiful for in many parts of the United States the
points have been found. But Folsom Man himself still eludes us. The name
means little. It is a term that is rather loosely applied to the makers
of the beautiful Folsom Points. They are entirely distinctive and are
among the highest examples of the flint workers art that have been found
in America. Beautifully shaped, delicately chipped points with grooved
faces, they can not be confused with any other dart or spear points.
They have been found in many places, often associated with the bones of
extinct animals.
Up in northern Colorado, near the town of Fort Collins, is the
Lindenmeier Site. In it were found the bones of the same bison as those
of Folsom. With them were the same Folsom Points. With them, also, were
stone knives, scrapers, chopping and rubbing stones, as well as the
ashes and charcoal from ancient campfires. They were spread over a large
area. It was a campsite where Folsom Man actually had lived. Was Folsom
Man in camp? No, he had stepped out!
In Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and other states, similar finds
have been made. Folsom Points, and other points equally ancient, have
been found in association with the bones of many extinct animals such as
the bison, horse, mammoth and camel. Everywhere are found the evidences;
nowhere is found Folsom Man himself.
Bones of the extinct animals, being solid and massive, have lasted well.
Tools made of stone last indefinitely. Human bones, being thin and
delicate, disintegrate more rapidly. There were probably few burials in
those days and the human bones were scattered to the four winds. Still
the search goes on. Sooner or later the find will be made. In the back
of a dry cave somewhere in the Southwest, probably, will be found some
human bones. With them will be some Folsom Points. Then we will know
that the points and the bones belonged to the same man—Folsom Man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account