INDIAN ROCK PAINTINGS MAY GIVE MANY SECRETS

That valuable and surprising information about prehistoric inhabitants,--possibly Asiatics--of America may be obtainable from the paintings and inscriptions known to exist on rocks in various parts of the country is the idea urged by Dr. E. E. Free, Science Editor of The Forum.

Dr. Free urges that the public supply information that will lead to the photography and scientific study of the prehistoric examples of American art before they disappear or are defaced.

Ancient Asiatics in America?

Last year in Arizona, a scientific expedition found some remarkable rock pictures, supposedly made by prehistoric man. The most interesting picture, scientifically, is one that resembles an ibex, an antelope like creature which hitherto has not been found in this country, even in fossil form.

If these pictures really are of the ibex, scientists think that they will have proof of a pre-Columbian visit of Asiatics to the Pacific coast. Such a visit to the Pacific coast, comparable to the ancient landing of Lief Ericsen on the Atlantic coast, is considered by no means impossible, it has been pointed out. Other possible evidence of the presence of Asiatics on the western coast is the story of a complete Chinese junk, found buried in the gravel of a stream by early Californian settlers.

Historic Assets Neglected

Rock pictures and early inscriptions are known to be present in many places of the United States. Always they have been ascribed to the Indians of comparatively modern times, and rightly so Dr. Free thinks, in the majority of cases. Some of them, however, Dr. Free believes to go back into prehistoric times, and to be archeologically very important. Just as the paintings in gorges and caves in Spain and France were long neglected, Dr. Free thinks that similar historic assets perhaps are now being wasted in the United States.

Scientific reports contain the localities where rock paintings have been found, but hundreds of others, known only to individuals, are not available for scientific information. The Forum has undertaken to collect information on all such paintings, and Dr. Free urges that all persons knowing of such paintings and inscriptions communicate with The Forum. Scientists will investigate the more important ones and endeavor to gain historical information by deciphering the inscriptions and interpreting the paintings.