112 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science 



greater age than the bone in question. In general, then, I regard this 

 site as one of the most important yet discovered and one demanding 

 further investigation. Regardless of what may ultimately prove to be 

 the significance of this carved bone, you have made a discovery of great 

 promise. I assure you of my appreciation of your confidence, in ex- 

 tending an invitation to make further excavations in this deposit and its 

 surroundings. So, pending the examination of the site, as indicated 

 above, no further comments seem necessary. The writer will do every- 

 thing he can to further this investigation to the end that the complete 

 story of Jacob's Cavern may be revealed. It is to be hoped that at last 

 we are on the trail of early man in America." 



Smithsonian bulletins have this to say on the subject in general: 

 "Caves and rock shelters representing various periods and offering 

 dwelling places to the tribes that have come and gone, may reasonably 

 be expected to contain traces of the peoples of all periods of occupancy. 

 Vast areas of limestone rocks of varying age occur in which are count- 

 less caves, the great caverns of Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia and Mis- 

 .souri being well known examples. It is observed that in general these 

 caverns have existed for a long period, extending back well beyond the 

 time when man is assumed to have appeared on the continent; but the 

 deposits forming their floors, with few exceptions, have not been fully 

 examined and up to the present time have furnished no very tangible 

 evidence of the presence of man." 



These meager results may possibly be accounted for by the fact 

 that rare antiques have been and aie expected as a reward for digging, 

 delving and exploring. What an explorer should hope to find, if he is 

 skilled, is something which will enable him to date and explain the site 

 he is excavating, or the period to which it belongs. Regarded in that 

 way, the intrinsic value and beauty of the objects found is irrelevant. 

 This idea of archeological research applies forcibly to the work of de- 

 termining the beginnings of aboriginal man in America, for the proofs 

 are rare and Nature has buried them deep. Mexico has its volcanic 

 lava flows which have preserved the records in stone; and other sections 

 have lake dwellings with shell heaps in which traces of early man lie 

 buried; but here in mid-continent the mounds and caverns must be 

 looked to for ancient and unwritten information. Ohio has obtained a 

 most enviable history in its mounds and earth embankments, but this 

 is mainly in the way of remarkable achievements by the later cultures 

 of that prehistoric Indian race. In no section probably is there a better 

 field for research than in Indiana, for there is hardly a county in south- 

 ern Indiana but what can show caves or rock shelters, and in some they 

 are very numerous. It v/ould not necessarily be a large cave that 

 would be most desirable for habitation, and the Indiana Historical Com- 

 mission in its work of developing a State Archeological and Historical 

 Survey will probably be able to locate those which show signs of having 

 been in such use. 



Scattered over the length and breadth of the land in almost all 

 directions are the innumerable conical mounds which vary in size and 

 apparent use, some being of a sepulchral nature while others bear traces 



