ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDIES IN CALIFORNIA. 171 



of them (Plate 9^/), Mr, Cannon stated that he found them several 

 3'ears ago in a mine on Mormon Creek near ])y. They were embedded 

 in auriferous gravels 5 or 6 feet deep, and at the same place, but a 

 little deeper, he uncovered a number of skeletons, accompanied by 

 various relics — implements of stone and ornaments of shell. That the 

 burials Averc comparatiA^eh" recent is indicated by the fact that the hair 

 of the scalps was well preserved. From Patrick Shine, a little farther 

 on, I secured a flattish, plate-like mortar, some 8 inches in diameter 

 and of usual type, that he declared had been obtained from a mine on 

 his place at a depth of SO feet. 



Old village sites were found at Saw Mill Flat, S miles northeast of 

 Jamestown, on the brink of a deserted mine, and at the entrance to the 

 tiuuiel of Montezuma mine, on Table Mountain, 3 miles southwest of 

 Jamestown. Near Columbia, Avhich was a great mining center in the 

 early days, there is a large granite outcrop, exhibiting a considerable 

 group of mortars of the usual form, sunk in the surface. 



The journe}^ from Jamestown to Murph^^s and Angels gave us the 

 0})portunit3" of crossing the valley of the Stanislaus at two points — 

 Rol)inson and Parrott ferries — and the impression made on our minds 

 bv the gorge of the American Fork was strengthened })y the experi- 

 ence. The proposition necessarily entertained by believers in aurif- 

 erous gravel man that these vast valleys with their lofty and wide- 

 spreading walls have been eroded within the human period seems too 

 preposterous to be entertained. The descents are made b^- well-kept 

 roads, but the way is long and often precipitous, and the scenery is 

 exceedingly impressive. 



On the plateau beyond the canyon the limestone belt begins, ^nd as 

 a result canyons, caverns, and natural bridges are common. Near 

 Murphys a visit was made to Mercer's cave, which is entered b}'^ a 

 contracted irregular opening descending almost verticall}' and expand- 

 ing into a series of irregular crevice-like chambers, the result of the 

 solution of a particular limestone stratum by underground waters. 

 Through the appreciative courtesv of Mr. W. J. Mercer we were able 

 to examine the cavern and to dig for human remains in the debris 

 directly beneath the opening. A few fragments only were found, but 

 Mr. jVIercer had previously secured some skulls and other portions of 

 skeletons. They were not old and were not coated with calcareous 

 matter, having been buried but a short time in the loose earth which 

 had fallen in from the opening. One of these skulls was presented to 

 the U. S. National Museum l)y Mr. Mercer, and the result of an 

 examination 1)}^ Dr. George A. Dorsey shows that it resembles very 

 closely the so-called Calaveras skidl of Whitney.^ 



At a considerable depth, and not directly beneath the opening, we 

 were shown portions of a skeleton of some large animal. Some frag- 



^ Smithsonian Report, 1899, p. 465. 



