hedliCka] skeletal REMAINS OF EARLY MAN 273 



The human remains under consideration were recently described 

 by Professor Ameghino, and they have been made by him the repre- 

 sentatives of still another South American species of man, namely, 

 the Homo sinemento. 



They are first mentioned in print in a commemorative number of 

 "La Nacion." ^ Following a statement concerning the Homo pam- 

 pseus, we read the following (p. 24): 



"From the same epoch as the H. pampseus or perhaps somewhat 

 more recent is the Homo sinemento, which, retaining some very primi- 

 tive characteristics, has in other respects surpassed m its evolution 

 Homo sapiens. Its representatives were pigmies (1.40 m.), of a very 

 prognathic rostrum, of lower jaw without chin, as in Homo primi- 

 genius, but with orthognathic and very regular denture, and without 

 the last molar. It is a species which disappeared without leaving 

 descendants." 



Somewhat later, on the occasion of the meeting of the International 

 Scientific Congress in Buenos Aires, the find was reported and pub- 

 lished more in detail. The follomng principal statements were made 

 by Professor Ameghino: ^ 



When the human bones in question reached the Museo Nacional, 

 where they were cleaned and reconstructed, "it was possible to 

 establish the fact that they were fossil bones enveloped by the Pam- 

 pean loess, in parts strongly hardened by calcareous concretions or 

 tosca, which is so characteristic of the Pampean formation." 



When subsequently Professor Ameghino, with his brother Carlos, 

 visited the place where the remains were found, he saw that "the 

 fossae, from which the skeletons were extracted, were excavated in 

 Unmoved (in situ) terrane, traversed by lines of tosca absolutely iden- 

 tical with that which envelops and also fills many of the human 

 bones. From the earth that was dug out I still gathered some frag- 

 ments of the skeletons, various bones split longitudinally, and an 

 instrument made from a fragment of long bone intended for retouch- 

 ing stone flakes. 



"The whole surface of the ground was sown over with worked 

 stones, some representing real instruments, others rejects and re- 

 siduum. It is the industiy of the split stone (piedra Jiendida). 



"I gathered also many fragments of scoriae and some of baked 

 earth. 



"Finally, over the whole locality there were numerous fossil bones, 

 especially from young animals. ... 



1 Ameghino, F., Geologia, paleogeografia, paleontologla, antropologla de la Repflblica Argentina. 

 Estudio publicado en el Numero Extraordinario de La Nacion, Buenos Aires, May 25, 1910; separate, 

 pp. 1-25. 



2 Ameghino, Florentino, Descubrimiento de dos esqueletos humanos Msiles en el pampeano inferior del 

 Moro; special separate, Congreso Cientifico Internacional Americano, Buenos Aires, 10 d 25 de Julio, 1910, 

 pp. 1-6. 



21535°— Bull. 52—12 18 



