Ancient masks unearthed in Montana cave

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Four brothers from southern Alberta have unearthed ancient masks made of shells believed to be from the Gulf of Mexico in a Montana cave.

Steele, Corry, Tracy and Shayne Tolman made the discovery in the Sweetgrass Hills, just south of the Canadian border, when they were camping.

Archaeologist think the masks, about 16 centimetres wide and buried in dirt under the cave floor, may have found their way into the Sweetgrass Hills when their Indian makers travelled up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

The find is significant because it proves ancient Indians living along the American south Atlantic coast were not strangers to Canada, said Montana archaeologist Stanley Jaynes.

"The influence of the Mississippian culture is even more extensive than had been previously thought," Jaynes said.

Approximately 100 of these types of discoveries have been made throughout North America, about 80 of them in the southeastern United States. Manitoba is the furthest north the masks have been discovered.

The artifacts were carved from either elk or conch shells and were worn around the neck of their Indian creators, Jaynes said.

Those discovered in the southeastern United States date to about 1600 A.D., but the masks found in Montana are probably not as old.

Campers and local residents have visited the site for years, but the specific location of the cave is not being revealed, said Barry Wood, an archaeologist from Mountain View in southwestern Alberta.

The artifacts were only found now because seepage from heavy rainfall this year may have washed away some of the dirt floor, partially revealing the masks and some arrowheads, Wood said.

The masks have red stains on the back, likely paint mixed with ochre and showing finger smears in a specific design. The paint was often used in religious ceremonies, said Jaynes.

Further intrusion on the site could impede future excavations, Jaynes said. Landowners near the site have vowed to keep watch for treasure hunters and will report any intruders to the police.