The Adventures of Kele: Boy of the Rock Shelter: The Far Horizon

By Ralph E. Jones

This is a continuing saga about Kele, a boy who lived many thousands of years ago in the rugged area now known as Southwest Texas.It is the age of hunter-gatherers, and Kele and his clan must live off the land and what nature provides for them. It is a story involving his family and his difficult journey from their Rock Shelter home in search of a new home in a land far away. It is a story steeped in exciting, and often perilous adventures as the family journeys across new and unfamiliar territory. They must endure the harsh terrain and weather, ravages of wild animals, and their difficult search for shelter and food. Kele is now almost 16 years of age, having proven himself worthy of manhood 4 years ago. He has become the best hunter in his clan, and is a leader among his people. His destiny is yet to be discovered and fulfilled, however, as he discovers along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477294062

Ralph E. Jones

Dr. Ralph E. Jones retired from the U.S. Air Force after a distinguished career of 22 years. He worked in various hospital settings before retiring from the State of Texas as a Health Care Administrator, Counselor, and Psychologist for another 22 years of service. Dr. Jones received many awards, decorations, and allocades during his career; to include Counselor of the Year for the State of Texas and induction into the Hall of Fame with the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals. Included in his four degrees were studies in Anthropology, in which he had always been interested in. These studies served as a basis for fulfilling his desire to be an Avocational Archaeologist. He visited many Archaeology sites throughout the world, and explored many areas pertaining to early man in Southwest Texas. His authored books include Straight Talk: Answers to Questions Young People ask about Alcohol, and The Adventures of Kele, Boy of the Rock Shelter.

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© 2012 Ralph E. Jones. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/27/2012

ISBN:   978-1-4772-9405-5 (sc)

ISBN:   978-1-4772-9406-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012922289

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As I heard someone once say, Writing a novel is a solitary profession but there is always someone that is there for the writer along the way. I have been assuredly blessed to have those in my life who made this effort possible.

First and foremost I wish to thank my mentor, my colleague, and very dear friend Dr. Donald Smith for reading the manuscript, helping me with corrections, and offering invaluable advice.

I acknowledge the efforts of the archaeologists and vocational archaeologists that have gone before me in their studies of the pre-historic peoples of Southwest Texas. I certainly empathize with them in their tireless efforts in those rugged, dry, and remote canyons; to uncover the story of those great people.

I am most grateful for the friendship of Rolando Garza and Mark Spiers of the National Park Service for re-igniting the archaeological spark in me to write the stories of Kele which have been compartmentalized to the back of my memory for many years.

To Stephen Vega and Juan Hernandez, my friends and colleagues, who have helped me on more than one occasion to maintain solid footing.

I am very thankful for the most outstanding talents of, whom I, and many others, consider to be the most exceptional illustrations depicting the life and times of Kele and his people in their pre-historical setting. To Clemente Guzman III who captured the theme of this book so wonderfully in his cover illustration. To Susan Dial and the staff at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory; to Mary Etzkorn and the staff of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center; to one of the pioneer archaeologists of Southwest Texas Pre-history, Dr. Thomas Hester, for his assistance; to Reeda Peel, the Rock Art Coordinator of the Center for Big Bend Studies, at Sul Ross State University; And last, but definitely not the least, to Nola Davis of the Texas Parks and Wildlife, Interpretive Services Branch, whose illustrations are unmatched and truly make the story of the pre-historical peoples of Southwest Texas come to life.

DEDICATION

To the one person who has always been there to take the journey with me,

my soul mate and Loving wife, Chela

FORWARD

The Far Horizon is a wonderful follow-up to The Adventures of Kele, Boy of the Rock Shelter. In this book series Dr. Ralph E. Jones tells the tale of a boy who becomes a man (Book 1) and as a man becomes a leader (Book 2) some 8,000 years ago in the Trans-Pecos Region of modern Texas, during the onset of what archeologists call the Early Archaic Period. Obviously a work of fiction, Dr. Jones draws upon his knowledge of Archaeology to inject a dimension of authenticity into this story.

Dr. Jones’ vivid and detailed descriptions of activities such as how Kele and his family prepared their food, or made pigments to paint their bodies or the walls of their shelter, provides the reader with insights into the possible day-to-day life of the people of the Early Archaic Period. The adventures and trials that Kele has to deal with, such as having to slay a panther or having to mend his uncle’s broken leg, are all relayed in explicit temporal context while keeping the reader engaged. Moreover, the lessons that Kele learns on fear and bravery, responsibility and honor throughout his journey, are live lessons that transcend all time.

In brief, I applaud Dr. Ralph Jones for producing this series. He is exposing young readers, as well as readers of all ages, to a period in time that is very far removed, both in understanding and in time, from the one we live today. His detailed descriptions of the material cultural and natural environment of the Early Archaic Period add a certain depth to this book. Lastly, I feel the illustrated glossary will be a valuable reference for the book lover.

Rolando L. Garza

Archaeologist

Palo Alto Battlefield NHP

National Park Service

Brownsville, Texas

2012

Contents

PREFACE

Chapter 1

We are going to where the sky meets the earth.

Chapter 2

The journey begins:

Hello Great panther, we meet again.

Chapter 3

He is our Great Hunter!

Chapter 4

At the temporary shelter

Chapter 5

A Shaman must be faithful to the Great Spirit and his people.

Chapter 6

We are on a quest of our visions

Chapter 7

It is a beautiful canyon

Chapter 8

The Great Spirit has given us a new home.

Chapter 9

The stories of the Great Beast are true

Chapter 10

The Thundering Herd.

Chapter 11

He is now with the Great Spirit.

Epilogue

GLOSSARY AND ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS BOOK

PREFACE

I shall never forget that first expedition I took into the canyon where the story of Kele was to be born. Trekking up that great canyon a rock shelter high upon the canyon wall came into view. Once inside the shelter I felt a sense of humility and honor, as I was in the home of an ancient people. They had left behind parts of themselves and their culture.

Activities of their daily life and their deep spirituality were painted on the walls. I was indeed much honored to be there. I felt as though I was among those that resided there those many thousands of years ago. Leaving the shelter undisturbed, I had a single thought in my mind: I wanted to write a story of these people, in a novel form, yet with the archaeological knowledge I have gained about the people. Thus, years later, the first book of Kele came alive, with the intention of sharing a story with young people so that they in turn would learn about, and have an appreciation of, these ancient peoples.

This is a continuing tale of a boy named Kele (pronounced Key-Lee), who lived thousands of years ago in what is now called the Rio Grande River/Trans-Pecos area of

Southwest Texas. It is a story that is steeped in antiquity and adventure. It is difficult for us to Appreciate the difficulties those ancient people faced in their daily lives. It must have been very hard for them to survive in an environment that was rocky and rugged, with very hot summers and very cold winters. They had to live with what nature provided in the way of wild animals and plants for their food. They were hunter/gatherers and faced the continuing ravages’ of wild animals such as bears, panthers, and javelinas.

No one knows what language the people of that time spoke, if indeed they had a verbal language. It is known through their pictographs (paintings on the shelter walls) and petroglyphs (pictures and symbols chiseled in stone), that they communicated their thoughts and adventures in pictures and symbols through their art. We do know that they were a very religious people, believing in a Great Spirit, God if you will, because they left us drawings and paintings on shelter walls throughout the region. Archaeologists have interpreted certain figures as being Shamans (holy men), and entities of the spirit world that were greater than themselves. These drawings seemed to offer evidence that they had very complex religious beliefs. Wall paintings indicate they hunted bison, deer, antelope, and smaller game such as rabbits. They made their sandals, using fibers from the leaves of the lechuguilla (lay-chu-ghi-ya), agave (ah-gah-ve), and yucca plants. Archaeologists have discovered these sandals and other artifacts such as fishing nets, woven from plant fibers and preserved in the dryness of the rock shelters. In Kele’s time, they had not yet invented the bow and arrow, although they did have a bow and drill used for making fire. They made spear points out of chert and flint rock, fastening them to short spear shafts, called darts, with animal sinew, tree resin, or woven plant fiber cord. They threw their darts at game with the aid of an atlatl, or throwing stick. Kele’s people were also excellent basket weavers. They made other articles from plant fibers and animal skins to include loin cloths, rabbit fur shawls, plastrons (water containers made out of the shell of a turtle) and many other functional items.

These ancient peoples of Southwest Texas, who lived in the archaic period of pre-history, would eventually evolve thousands of years later in the late-archaic age into tribes such as the Jornada Mogollon. As they learned to cultivate crops, they would eventually become known as the Rio Bravo Farmers, far removed from the culture of their hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Kele’s story unfolds at the beginning of the archaic period approximately 4,000 to 8,000 years ago. The Paleolithic era has come to an end, the great ice age has ended, and the mammoth and other large animals of that period have all disappeared. It is the age of the hunter-gatherers.

The story is a work of fiction. There was obviously no one there to record the environment and the peoples of this time, other than the archaeological evidence they left behind. Thus the times are considered pre-history. The names used have been drawn from those sounding like some of the oldest Native American languages of the area. I have drawn upon my archaeological experiences often in the story, and the glossary and illustrations at the back of this novel are considered accurate representations and verified by the archaeological record of the area. Thus, as with many novels, there is a basis of fact.

Kele, the main character of this story, is now almost 16 years of age. He has survived almost four years since reaching manhood, the theme of Book One. Kele is now a man, and has become an invaluable member of his clan. His skills with the atlatl and dart are unsurpassed by any other hunter of his clan, and he has special gifts that yet unfold in the story. His father’s name is Kwahu and his Mother is Tawa. His two cousins, Moki and Attu, have since selected mates from nomadic peoples who have joined the family in their shelter. They now have small children of their own. Other characters in this story are Adando and Katori, Kwahu’s elder brothers (and Keles uncles); Kuru (Moki and Attu’s Father-in-Law)