Chapter 40

Remember the Knapper?

The Asian Import who knapped the spear-point?

The point I found and started the whole mess?

We had nothing except Coprolites as evidence of his existence in the cave.

Edward Drinker Cope, a Philadelphia Quaker—his opposition to Darwin as well as his reputation for precocious brilliance was well established among fellow scientists. His chief rival was balding, bearded Othniel Marsh of Yale College, nine years older, slower, more methodical, and less established.WIKI

Although the presence of petrified intestinal waste had been noticed since the Seventeenth Century, the term for them was bezoar. Marsh is accredited with the lasting term ‘Coprolite.’ Fossilized shit ... just like professor Cope. (Professor LB Davis; Discussions at several archaeological sites.)

Our mechanic/craftsman was un-discovered until the last boulder was removed from the breakdown.

He wasn’t very tall ... but facial reconstruction pointed the way, Asian immigrant ... the condition of his hands? possible sailor. His tool-kit was highly reminiscent of modern knapping tool-kits. The collection of chert chunks in his carry-sack bespoke variety and possible trade. Red and black mottled obsidian from Oregon, black obsidian from the Yellowstone Caldera, chert nodules from limestone, collected where-ever and the pretties.