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REMAINS OF A BIG INDIAN FOUND IN CALIFORNIA. Raven Feet Four Inches Was the Height of Member of Extinct Race Wheel Bones Were Dug Up. San Francisco, Cal—Up to about 300 years ago # giant race of Indians Inhabited the coast region of Califor nia. Remains of these have been dis covered on the islands of the Santa Barbara channel To William Alt mann, assistant curator of the Golden Gate Park Memorial museum, belongs the hon of discovering one of the tallest and best preserved skeletons of this extinct tribe. Altmann utilized this vacation in ex cavating an old Indian burial mound in the nursery of Thomas 8. Duane, two miles from Concord, in Contra Costa county. The giant skeleton was found ten feet from the surface, and around It were a number of mor tare and pesties, charm stones and obsidian arrow head. The skeleton has not yet been mounted, but the bones were assem bled on a table in the curator’s of fice and placed on private exhibition. The bones are, in good state of pres ervation, being hard and firm, al though brown with age. Two or three of the vertebra are miming, and the skull is broken into three parts. The skeleton measures seven feet four inches. The tibia is seventeen Indi ea In length. The skull ta In great contrast with that of the Digger Indian of, the pres ent day, being of a much more intel lectual type. The under Jaw 9 square and massive, being remarkably thick and strong. Either the dead Indian was of great age or he subslsted on hard food, as shown by bio molars, which are worn perfectly fat and close to the gums. The find in of the greatest import ance to anthropologists the world over, confirming as it does, the theory advanced when the giant skeletons were unearthed In the Santa Barbara Islanda, that a superior race of Indi ans, physically and mentally, preced ed the Digger and other of the present day. This also in the peatles and charm stones found near the body. The former are ornamented with phallic carvings, whereas the peatles made by the former and present Jay Diggers, are not carved or ornament ed in any way. The charm ste of baked clay, # beginning in of pottery making, which are not found with Digger remains. ‘This Interesting find was made on the Salvador Pacheco ranch, part of ‘which is occupied by Duane’s nursery. It is Altmann’s intention to make a further exploration of the mound at an early date for other relica of the bygone tribe.
Newspaper Details
Iowa State Bystander
Des Moines, Iowa, US
Fri, Aug 09, 1912
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Kimberly F.
USA 08 Feb 2026
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