ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT 23 



earth it is evident that "thousands of years" is a meaningless term 

 to apply to them. 



3. Persons who claim these "thousands of years" for pretty much 

 eveiything they find in the ground, must explain why it is that while 

 the bones and implements of these assumed "ancients" are found in 

 such cjuantities and in such good preservation, those of later Indians 

 should have entirely disappeared. 



The only tenable theory of age is the amount of accumulation in 

 the depressions of the lodge sites. Above the clay which formed the 

 roof, and is next to the iioor now, is a depth of material sometimes, it 

 is said, as much as 20 or even 22 inches of mingled silt, decayed vege- 

 tation, and soil from the surroiniding wall. It is used as an argu- 

 ment of age; that as these sites are on hilltops where there can be no 

 inwash, this depth must indicate a very remote period for their con- 

 struction. But a large amount of the earth thrown out into the sur- 

 rounding ring or wall will find its way back into the depression. Tlie 

 water will stand in them a good part of the year, and the soil remain 

 damj) even in prolonged drought; vegetation is thus more luxuriant 

 than on the outside, and its decay will fill up rather rapidly. In addi- 

 tion, much sand blows from the prairies as well as from the bottom 

 lands, and whatever finds its way into the pit will stay there; it will 

 not blow away again, as it would in open ground. Weeds also will 

 catch and retain much of this dust, which would pass on over a dry 

 surface. Consequently the allowance of an inch in a century, which 

 is the most that advocates of great age will allow for accumulation, 

 is too small. 



Tlie topography of the region was essentially the same when these 

 remains were constructed as it is now. The hills and valleys were as 

 they now exist; the erosion has been very slight as compared with 

 that which has taken place since the loess was brought above the 

 water to which it owes its origin. This statement is fully proved by 

 the position of the mounds and lodge sites. Any estimate of age 

 must be only conjecture at best; but it is safe to say that no earth- 

 work, mound, lodge, site, or human bones along this part of the 

 Missouri River has been here as long as 10 centuries. 



With regard to the discoveries of human remains at ex- 

 ceptional depths in loess formations on Longs Hill, near 

 Omaha, Mr. Fowke states that excavation of the site has been 

 so exhaustive that further investigations are out of the ques- 

 tion, and that determinations of age, therefore, must rest, 

 in the main at least, with the published statements of the 

 original explorers. 



During recent years observers have reported the existence 

 of mounds and other evidences of prehistoric occupancy in 



