SKELETAL REMAINS 87 



DISCUSSION 



The examination of the human remains from the Gilder mound 

 being concluded and their somatological characters described in 

 detail, it is now necessary to consider the question of their probable 

 relations to the geological formation with which they were associated 

 and the bearing of these relations on the question of antiquity. 



It is not questioned that the various explorations have been intel 

 ligently conducted and that sincere effort has been made to ascertain 

 and promulgate the entire truth regarding the finds, but if the pres 

 ent knowledge concerning these specimens is impartially considered, 

 it- is apparent that the theory of a more than recent geological origin 

 of any of them meets with serious objections, while, on the other 

 hand, no insurmountable obstacle appears in connection with the 

 assumption that all are comparatively recent. If the existence of 

 geologically ancient man in any part of this country is to be generally 

 accepted, the evidence should be free from serious doubts and uncer 

 tainties. That this condition is not fulfilled in the present case Avill 

 become manifest when due weight is given to the following consid 

 erations : 



(a) Within a depth of 5 feet or less, the Gilder mound contained 

 the remains of apparently about a dozen bodies. There were male 

 and female skeletons, ranging in age from the infant to the senile 

 subject. Two or three of the skulls, with some accompanying bones, 

 lay within 2^ feet or less of the surface. Below this, according to 

 the explicit statements of Mr. Gilder, was a layer of clay of undeter 

 mined area, hardened by fire. This is an occasional feature in 

 burial mounds of this general region, b the purpose of the baking being 

 possibly to protect the bodies from animals which otherwise might 

 prey on them. Beneath this cover of hardened earth lay in some pro 

 miscuity, but in numerous instances in partial natural association, the 

 skeletal remains of eight or nine bodies. At still lower levels, 

 down to the depth of 11-J feet, were found here and there pieces of 

 human bones. Instances of anatomical association extended to the 



a A small piece of clay secured by Mr. Gilder and recently sent for examination to 

 the writer by Professor Barbour, shows unmistakable signs of partial burning. Portions 

 of the piece are of the color and nearly of the consistency of a light-burned brick. A 

 sample of this nature, while not conclusive proof of an extended fire-hardened layer, is 

 nevertheless confirmatory of Mr. Gilder s earlier statements as to the existence of such a 

 layer. 



b See Cyrus Thomas, Report on the Mound Exploration of the Bureau of Ethnology, 

 Twelfth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology/ Washington, 1894; and 

 Frederick Starr, Summary of the Archeology of Iowa (with Bibliography of lowan 

 Antiquities), Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Sciences, vi, 1895. 



c According to information received from Professor Barbour March 5, a block of loess 

 which was taken to the laboratory in its entirety, showed parts of another skeleton. 

 The bones began at 4 feet 9 inches from the surface and extended down to 6 feet, several 

 of them plainly showing anatomical association. 



