118 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 60 



are mentioned b,y both explorers. Numerous cemeteries have yielded 

 many relics of art of all classes. Rock carvings are distributed gen- 

 erally over the area. 



The relics of stone seem to tell a consistent story of ethnic condi- 

 tions varying but little from that of historic times. 

 stone Implements Certain fomis of implements and objects of sculp- 

 ture characteristic of California extend to the north 

 throughout the entire length of the area, while other forms character- 

 istic of the Northwest coast extend far to the south. Deep globular 

 forms of mortars prevail in some sections, and metates are 

 found in others. The pestles in certain regions are of the ob- 

 long-club shape, many well finished and even tastefully carved, 

 wdiile in others they are ovoid or flatfish, many being merely 

 adapted bowlders. All were used as hammers on occasion. Tobacco 

 pipes, straight in the south and bent tubes and other forms in the 

 north, are mentioned. The grooved ax and celt are absent, the adz 

 blade taking the place of these forms here as elsewhere on the 

 Pacific slope. Dishes, slate knives, sinkers, wedges of antler, abrad- 

 ing stones, scrapers, drills, arrow-shaft rubbers, clubs (the latter 

 of bone and stone), projectile points, and knives are found in 

 numbers. 



Among objects of exceptional types nuiy be mentioned large 

 obsidian ceremonial blades in the south, batons of stone or bone 

 carved to suggest or represent animal shapes, weight-like stones with 

 loop for suspension, and certain curious carved heads which have been 

 regarded by some as intended to represent apes. The latter, although 

 not carvings of particular note, find no counterparts in any section of 

 North America. 



Detailed study of this region would, jx'rhaps, as in other cases, 

 require its separation into two or more minor environments, but the 

 blendings of the material culture are so intricate that conclusions of 

 value can not be reached until further field investigations are made. 



There appears no certain evidence of the presence in early times 

 of peoples distinct in character and culture from those of the present. 

 The valley of the Columbia is given an important place in the ethnic 

 history of the continent by Morgan, who imagined it was a kind of 

 hothouse, the multiplying peoples of which spread out over the south 

 and east; but slight evidence has been found to support this hypoth- 

 esis. Certain finds of supposed geologically ancient human remains 

 and culture traces have been reported, but none of these have so far 

 been fully authenticated. If, however, geologically ancient man did 

 occupy the continent, the valley of the Columbia ought to be a very 

 promising field for the discovery of the record. 



Explorers of the region include Schumacher, Eells, Smith, Boas, 

 Terry, Dawson, Morice, and Chase. 



