8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 59 
factorily in Naples and Potsdam, but clouds prevented them in 
London and Paris. 
INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN IN SOUTH 
AMERICA 
In March, 1910, Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, Curator of the Division of 
Physical Anthropology in the National Museum, went to Argentina 
on behalf of the Institution for the purpose of making an investigation 
into the question of man’s antiquity in that part of the world. A 
grant was also made to enable Mr. Bailey Willis, of the United States 
Geological Survey, then proceeding to South America in the interest 
of the world’s topographical map, to cooperate with Doctor Hrdlicka, 
as it was appreciated that the problems to be met with were, to an 
important degree, of a geological nature. The undertaking was 
suggested by Mr. William H. Holmes, whose observations during a 
visit to Argentina in 1908 made apparent the far-reaching importance 
of the data bearing on human antiquity in South America then being 
assembled. 
The inquiry into man’s antiquity in South America dates from the 
meager reports concerning the scattered remains in the Lagoa Santa 
caves in Brazil, the casual Seguin finds in the province of Santa Fe, 
Argentina, and the Moreno collection of old Patagonian material 
from the vallev of the Rio Negro. It has assumed a special impor- 
tance during the last decade, through a relatively large number of 
reports by Argentinian investigators (particularly by the late Flor- 
entino Ameghino) of new finds of remains of ancient man and of 
traces of his activities. Some of the more recent finds were so 
interpreted that, if corroborated, they would have a most important 
bearing not merely on man’s early presence in the South American 
continent, but on the evolution and the dispersal of mankind in 
general. 
The Smithsonian representatives received from the Argentine 
government and from scientific men of that country all necessary 
facilities for the examination of the specimens preserved in various 
institutions and for the prosecution of their field-work. The late Prof. 
Florentino Ameghino and his brother, Carlos, gave special aid to the 
undertaking, accompanying Dr. Hrdli¢ka and Mr. Willis personally 
for over three weeks along the coast from place to place where the 
supposedly ancient remains were discovered. 
The researches occupied nearly two months. Every specimen 
relating to ancient man that could still be found was examined and 
every locality of importance where the finds were made was visited 
