Latcham.—ANCIENT CHILIAN SKULLS 203 
NOTES OW SOME ANCIENE OHILIAR SKULLS AND OTHER REMAINS 
BY 
R. E. LATCHAM 
In his “Journal of the voyage of the Beagle," Darwin briefly 
describes the terrace formation of the neighbourhood of Coquimbo 
Bay. Being located in the neighbourhood—Serena—during the 
past few years I thought it a favourable opportunity of making 
a more detailed study of the district than could have been 
attempted in a few days stay. The results of this study geolo- 
gical and otherwise, I hope to be able to publish shortly. 
Meanwhile, some of the results may be of interest to anthro- 
pological students; and may help to throw a light upon the 
disputed question of the original inhabitants of this part of the 
continent. 
One of the first things that called my attention was the 
frequent recurrence of irregular shaped mounds, along the terrace 
edges; or ancient high water marks. At first I supposed that 
these were drifted sand hills, such as are in the course of forma- 
tion along the actual coast line, but a closer examination showed 
that, while in many cases this was so, others were formed almost 
entirely of shells. It then occurred to me that these might owe 
their origin to human agency, and have been formed in the same 
manner as the shell mounds of the Baltic and other coasts. 
In such case they would probably contain other remains, 
perhaps even human relics. 
After a careful search, ] found my surmise correct. Embedded 
among the shells and sand, were the bones of numerous animals 
and birds, some of which are not now found in this district. 
Occasionally I came upon instruments of stone, shell, or bone, 
also fragments of pottery and in several cases portions of human — 
skeletons but in such a weatherworn, broken condition, that I 
could not form an opinion respecting the race they represented. 
The skulls invariably crumbled away on touch, and even the 
teeth were so brittle that they would seldom stand the least 
pressure. This was donbtless owing to the porous nature of the 
soil, and the action of the moisture and acids. 
Only on one occasion did I obtain a skull in such condition as 
would render even a superficial study possible, and then only 
