HUMAN BONES OF THE HEMENWAY COLLECTION. 



PAET I -THE SERIES OF SALADO. 



$ 1. CONDITION AND REPAIR OF BONES. 



As we have stated in the introduction, the bones when found were in an advanced state of 

 decay and exceedingly fragile; particularly was this the case at Los Muertos. The organic 

 remains at Los Ifornos, Los Guauaeos, and Las Acequias were usually in better condition than at 

 the first-named ruins, owing, probably, to the greater dryriess or other more advantageous quality 

 in the soil. At Las Acequias they were in the best condition of all. When carefully unearthed 

 the bones, in situ, in the graves might seem in sound condition, but the slightest manipulation 

 a touch of the finger even would cause them to crumble into dust. The bones of the upper face, 

 the pelvis, and the epiphyses of the long bones were the most friable. Parts successfully unearthed, 

 but not immediately conserved, if they escaped the despoiling foot of the mischievous visitor, 

 would often disintegrate in a day or two from the effects of exposure to sun and wind. After a 

 period of annoying experiences it became the custom to apply paraffin, shellac, or other preserving 

 substance to the bones before their removal from the graves, or immediately after. 



The skulls were nearly all obtained in a fragmentary condition ; the fragments, carefully packed, 

 were forwarded to the Army Medical Museum in Washington, and here a number were, with much 

 labor, put together in such a manner that they might be measured and studied as entire skulls. 

 The remaining fragments often gave us valuable points for anatomical study. In the work of 

 restoration we had in many cases to use plaster of Paris to fill gaps or strengthen weak parts. 

 Where the plaster was used superficially to replace thin scales from the outer table, measurements 

 were, after due deliberation, sometimes taken from points on the plastered surface; but where the 

 plaster had been thickly applied, had been used in restoring salient points, or had been employed 

 to till a gap in both tables of the bone, its presence was considered to preclude measurement. In 

 a small number of skulls where we had, after restoration, reason to suspect the existence of post 

 mortem distortion, measurements were not made not, at least, in the regions affected by the dis 

 tortion. A great but unavoidable disadvantage in the use of the plaster was that it encroached 

 on the cranial cavity and thus usually rendered the cubature of the latter impossible. 



$ 2. THE MEASUREMENTS OF THE SKULLS. 



Ill preparing this report we have kept two objects in view : First, that we might obtain material 

 for our own study and comparison of this collection; and, second, that we might furnish to other 

 investigators material for comparative study. In providing for the latter we have taken some 

 measurements which we have not used as data for subsequent investigations, and we have not 

 confined ourselves to the methods of any particular school or system. 



For purposes of our own research we have employed chiefly the measurements of the French 

 and English schools of anthropology as formulated in Dr. Paul Topinard s recent work,* because 

 the literature of anthropology is richest in studies based on these measurements (Appendix A), 

 and the opportunities for comparison with them is consequently most extensive. 



Recognizing the fact that a great number of anthropologists throughout the world have 

 signified their intention of employing the measurements proposed by certain German anthropolo 

 gists, formulated in what is known as the Frankfort agreement (Appendix B), and hence, 



: Elements d Anthropologio U&ifralo; Parin, 1885; chap, xxvii. 



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