262 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 52 



absence of implements, is not coi-rect; even if some burials were 

 quite superficial or in shallow mounds, the fact does not, as seen 

 again and again in North America, exclude other forms of inhumation 

 in the same locahty, at the same or other periods. No photograpliic 

 study was made of the bones. That the}'' are sohdly covered with 

 calcareous concretions indicates no great age. Finally, as seen 

 from Martin's report, the bones so far as preserved show close morpho- 

 logic relations with those of the ordinary American natives. Strong 

 and liigh lower jaws are especially frequent in Argentina. 

 • Cases of the nature of the Baradero find have no prospect of 

 ever being generally accepted as representative of geologically ancient 

 man in America. They are full of uncertainties and are incapable of 

 furnishing positive proof of the contentions as to antiquity, which 

 are based on some of the unusual phenomena connected with the 

 circumstances of the find or with the bones themselves. The subject 

 of man's antiquity on tliis continent, as elsewhere, is of so great 

 importance that it demands much more than an opinion or assump- 

 tion by any observer. It calls in every case for a definite, unequivocal 

 demonstration, which permits of no legitimate doubt, and any fuid 

 that does not come up to this requirement can have no right to further 

 consideration as an evidence of man's antiquity. Doubtful cases, 

 as that of Baradero, marked by scanty geologic records, poor mate- 

 rial, and the absence of all conclusive evidence of great age, are 

 really, until definitely excluded from further consideration, obstruc- 

 tions to the progress of scientific research. 



HOMO CAPUTINCLINATUS — THE ARROYO SIASGO SKELETON 

 History and Earlier Reports 



The Arroyo Siasgo skeleton is one of the latest finds in Argentina 

 of human remains attributed to antiquity It was made by Carlos 

 Amegliino and was reported before the International Scientific Con- 

 gress in July, 1910, by Florentino Ameghino. 



The report was pubhshed shortly afterward ^ and, as it is rather 

 inaccessible, the contents are given here with more detail that is per- 

 haps absolutely necessary. Professor Amegliino says : 



"The year 1909 and that part of 1910 wliich has already passed 

 have been particularly fruitful in finds relating to fossil man in the 

 Argentine territory. 



"It would seem that we have assisted at the awakening from ultra 

 tumha of the ancient and now extinct species and races of man wliich 

 inhabited our lands, in order that they might present themselves, 

 even though only with their inanimate bones, at the celebration of the 

 Centenary. 



» Descubrimiento de un esqueleto huraano f6sil en el pampeano superior del Arroyo Siasgo; Congreao 

 Cientlfico Iniernacional Americano; Separate publication, Buenos Aires, 1910, pp. 1-6. 



