558 CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN ARCHEOLOGY TO HUMAN HISTORY. 



as the use of the terms "■ [)aleolithic " and " neolithie " are concerned 

 they may botli be omitted from the nomenclature of American arche- 

 ology without loss, if not to possible advantage. The simplest forms 

 of stone implements occur everywhere in association with the most 

 highly developed forms, and neolithic forms are reported from for- 

 mations of nearly all periods back to the earliest that have been 

 observed. 



In America, especially North America, we have sought almost 

 in vain to establish a definite chronology of man and culture. Evi- 

 dence of antiquity is not wanting, but when we try to adjust the 

 phenomena to the geological time scale Ave meet with indifferent suc- 

 cess. Hundreds of ancient caves have been searched, with only nega- 

 tive results ; glacial gravels have been examined with great care, but 

 the returns are exceedingly meager; river terraces and kitchen-mid- 

 den deposits yield nothing of particular value, and the results, when 

 viewed as a Avhole, instead of enlightening the mind, fill it rather with 

 confusion. It is within the bounds of possibility that this confusion 

 may in a measure be due to the presence in America of an autochtho- 

 nous race element. 



The contributions of American archeology in this department are 

 not to be compared with those of the Old World, where definite 

 chronological results are forthcoming on all hands. That America 

 may yet furnish contributions of importance in this branch of in- 

 quiry, however, lies well Avithin the bounds of possibility. 



It is thus seen that there are in America numerous questions await- 

 ing solution, and there is vagueness in many places; but, notwith- 

 standing this, the results of our archeological investigations are on 

 the whole most gratifying. Elach year the areas of the uncertain and 

 the unknown are being reduced, and Avhen the results achieved are 

 supplemented by the rich materials derived from the study of the 

 living peoples they must go far toward illuminating the pages of the 

 story of humanity in general which the Old World has been gradu- 

 ally but sui-ely revealing. 



Viewing the whole field of prehistorical research, Ave are struck 

 by the fact that the past of man is rapidly disclosing itself to our 

 vision, so that presently avc shall be able to look backAvard through the 

 biological and cultural vistas of his coming and connect the present 

 Avith the vanishing point of the human perspectiA^e Avith an insight 

 and comprehension little dreamed of until now. 



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