UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE TWO
JUNE 2.1947
Spaulding Wants Indian Relics For His Collection
If you plan any hikes during your summer vacation, keep your eyes open. You may stumble across a link in the history of the pre-historic American Indian.
Information on pieces of pottery or any artifacts that might show how the very early Indian lived would be welcome news to Prof. Albert Spaulding, K.U. archeologist at Dyche museum.
But just because you see what appears to be an old grave mound, don't start digging. Professor Spaulding is after pre-historic material, and anything a mere 100 years old would be too recent. He wants to find types of human art which will show fashions or change in the life of the Indian. Amateurs Help Experts
"Most of them are really very helpful." Professor Spaulding said "Just like having men on the staff. They tell us of their discoveries, and then we know where to look.
The anateur collector is the archeologist's best source of information.
"The amateur's greatest fault is not knowing what is valuable. Some of them damage sites, and others try to guess the age of the artifacts by the bones in the site. Some recent bones are badly deteriorated while some 10,000 years old have been well-preserved."
"Construction gangs often turn up Indian artifacts," he says, "but few of them have any commercial designs on the material. They are helpful and usually let us know about their discoveries.
Commercial looting is also discouraged. Some states have laws protecting sites.
"Although we don't pay for information, it's best to let us know about the place. Then we can determine its historical value."
But the department does pay for excavations. If a site is worth digging up and a farmer has just planted his spring wheat. The farmer is paid for the destroyed crop.
Most of the material is found near the surface. Erosion uncovers many artifacts but some are buried under several feet of earth. One
site in Nebraska is 27 feet below the surface.
Many legends and false impressions exist about archeology.
Everywhere he has been, Professor Spaulding said he has heard about someone reporting a mound in which a whole family of Indians is buried. They are supposedly seated in a circle.
Another legend is of "the red-skin with an extra large jaw." When the skeleton is uncovered, there's the jaw with the back part pressed upward. Inches fast the rear of the Indian's head. They Dig Outside Evypt. Too
Many persons think of archeologists as the men who do nothing but follow the National Geographic society. They uncover Egyptian ancient and older ancient inscriptions. This work is called classic archeology.
K. U. department is concerned only with gathering historical information, putting it in chrono-mathematical form, filling the whole story, from the beginning.
"I don't even have a pith helnet." Spaulding says.
CORE Names New Chairman
Beth Bell, College senior, will succeed Frank Stannard as chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality during the summer session.
The organization's next meeting will be June 7.
University Daily Kansan
University Daily Kansan
Mail subscription: $3 a semester, $4.50 a year. (in Lawrence add $1 a semester post-
year.) Attendance will be mandatory afternoon during the school year except
saturdays and Sundays. University holidays, and examination periods. Entered as
second class matter Sep. 17, 1910, at the University of Lawrence, Kan., under act of March
3. 1879
Time To Think Of Dad FATHER'S DAY June 15th
Dad Needs A Cool Robe
Supplant that old disreputable robe with a smart new Cotton Rayon or Seersucker There's a wide variety in all sizes
$8.95 to
$12.95
The Palace
Christian Fellowship Elects
843 Mass.
Officers for the coming year were elected at the Inter-Varsity Christian fellowship meeting Tuesday. They are Dean Anderson, president; Alice Almstrom, secretary; and Donald Simpson, treasurer. A vice-president will be elected next fall.
FINE
SERVICE
GREAT
CARS
SQUARE
DEAL
Read the Daily Kensan daily.
ALL OVER AMERICA—CHESTERFIELD IS TOPS!
Copyright 1917, LIGGITT & MYERS TOBACCO CO.