WHOLE VOL. SKELETAL REMAINS OF EARLY MAN HRDLICKA 59 



nation most of these dark lower deposits are seen to consist of gravel, 

 or lapilli, sand and mud, with what was seemingly originally volcanic 

 ashes. 



The Pithecanthropus level had evidently just been exposed by the 

 receding water. It was found covered with irregular small " ledges " 

 and different sized " rocks," some more solid, yellowish, sandstone- 

 like, others dark in color, consisting of gravel, sand and mud, and not 

 very solid, being quite easily broken by a harder stone and then 

 crumbling in the fingers. 



The stratification of the bank at this site was obscured, but its 

 main features were known from a chart prepared by the Selenka 

 Expedition in 1910. The site itself is not large and a few hours 

 of examination gave about all that could be had without excavation. 

 A native boat was then engaged and in this the writer made first 

 a little trip upstream, and then proceeded slowly down the Bengawan 

 examining the banks on both sides wherever they seemed to ofTer 

 anything of interest, down to Ngawi, which was reached that evening. 

 This is a wholly native river, and many interesting sights were seen 

 during our passage. 



Before leaving for Madioen that night the writer tried to impress 

 upon the very kind Assistant Resident the need of watching the 

 site of the Pithecanthropus and collecting each year, with the help 

 of the natives, everything that the water may wash out. I left with 

 the sad feeling that science was neglecting one of the most important 

 sites and regions in the realm of investigation. The whole river 

 should certainly be thoroughly surveyed and watched. A simple order 

 of the colonial authorities would at least effect, with a very small 

 expense if any. the saving each year of whatever the river may wash 

 out,* among which at any time there may appear specimens of much 

 importance. But what is needed is a prolonged excavation under con- 

 stant scientific supervision ; excavation which here could be carried 

 on at a relatively small expense, because of the cheapness of labor. 



The bones obtained by the writer from Trinil are in an excellent 

 state of preservation. They are brown to black in color and fully min- 

 eralized. Those that the writer had the good fortune to see and col- 

 lect showed a number of interesting conditions. The first was that the 



' That fossil bones are washed out from the deposits eacli year, left on the 

 ledges and collected by the natives who dispose of them for very small compen- 

 sation to whoever is interested in them, has been attested to the writer by all 

 with whom he came in contact, from the Assistant Resident to the natives ; and 

 not the slightest traces of any excavation by any one was seen. If there is any 

 excavation by the natives, as Professor Dubois seems to believe, it surely was not 

 apparent. 



