8 Iron Implements in an Ancient Mine in N.C. (January, 
discovered among the rubbish and refuse heaps about and in the 
old pits." 
When Prof. Kerr’s attention was first called to these prehistoric 
excavations (1867), he was invited to visit some “ old Spanish sil- 
ver mines” which had been discovered a few miles south-west of 
Bakersville, in Mitchell county, showing that by some means the 
inhabitants had associated these works with the early explorers of 
our country. It seems probable that tradition may have given 
rise to this impression, for in a letter written by the Hon. T. L. 
Clingman, who is very familiar with Western Carolina, I find the 
following: “The old Cherokee Indians, living in some of the 
western counties, used to speak of a tradition coming down in 
their tribe, that long ago companies of white men came on mules 
from the south, worked during the summer and carried off a 
white metal with them.” 
The evidence of the former exploration of this region by white 
men—Europeans—in search of the precious metals, has not, 
until recently, been very strong, although in many instances the 
works indicated a considerable skill in mining, and in a few 
cases marks have been found as if made by some metallic instru- 
ment. 
This summer, for the first time, I learned that some iron tools 
had been found in an old shaft in Macon county. Upon inquiry, 
I found them in the possession of Mr. Albert S. Bryson, a mer- 
chant in Franklin, the county seat of Macon. From him and 
others I ascertained the facts here stated. 
In 1875 the Guyer mica mine was opened on the site of a 
“ prehistoric working” on the mountains near Iola creek, north- 
_ west of the town. There was a basin-like depression some 
eighteen feet in diameter, at the bottom of which was a shaft 
apparently about eight feet deep. In carrying on the necessary 
mining operations this old shaft was cleaned out and found to be 
of considerable depth. In the rubbish which had accumulated 
Report of the Geological Survey of N.C., Vol. 1, p. 301, 1875. 
For the Finding of Mica ornaments in mounds see Vol. 1, Smithsonian Contribu-_ 
tions to knowledge. Monograph of Squier and Davis, p. 240; and Foster’s Prehis- 
toric Races of the U.S., p. 191. 
*Speeches and Writings of Hon. Thomas L. Clingman, p. 130. 
8 See Ib., p. 131. 
* Since the above was written Prof. Kerr has called my attention to the fact that 
an iron crank was discovered some years since in an ancient shaft in Cherokee © : 
county, on Valley river, See Rept. of Progress N. C. Geol. Surv., 1869, p. 56. 
