hrdliCka] skeletal EEMAINS OF EARLY MAN 325 



The Writer's Examination of the Specimen 



The writer reached Buenos Aires with the foregoing data before him 

 and in consequence thereoF with very eager expectations. But 

 when the specimen itself was placed before him by Professor Ameghino 

 there followed a rapid disenchantment, for it proved at every point 

 antagonistic to the notion that had been formed of it on the basis of 

 the published data. The first impression, in fact, amounted to incre- 

 dulity as to its being the relic in question. 



However, the specimen was subjected to a prolonged study and 

 comparison, which resulted as follows: 



The bone is a portion of the skull of an adult male, who, judging 

 from the state of the coronal suture, was approacliing middle age. 



It is free from all deformation, effected either during life or post- 

 humously. 



It presents no pathologic features with the exception of an old 

 shallow moderate-sized scar, situated just above the left frontal 

 eminence. The injury left a trace also on the ventral surface of the 

 bone, but is of no importance in the considerations that follow. 



The surface of the fragment seems to show a slight calcareous cov- 

 ering and is discolored (-wax to limonite-brown) , particularly on the 

 inside. The stained parts possess some luster, especially ventrally. 

 The surfaces of the frontal sinuses are covered by a calcareous de- 

 posit resembling a thin pellicle of brown wax. The thin walls of bone 

 between the frontal sinuses and the cranial cavity appear to be 

 wholly infiltrated with calcareous and ferruginous matter, and the 

 color of the interstitial parts of the bone where broken is blackish. 

 There are similar black dejiosits in some of the cavities of the diploe 

 in the postero-external part of the free edge of the left parietal and 

 there may be some interstitial infiltrations. Finally, in several of 

 the exposed diploe cells of tlie broken edge of the left parietal are 

 seen remains of light earth with minute white crystals, possibly fine 

 sand. Notwithstanding these conditions, the bone when struck does 

 not sound as one liighly mineralized and is not much heavier than 

 normal. Furthermore, in ground as rich in lime salts as the pam- 

 pean loess neither the above-mentioned discoloration nor these de- 

 posits can afford any index of antiquity. 



Discolorations similar to those presents by the skull were found 

 on numerous pieces of tosca recovered from the not very old strata 

 exposed in an excavation for a new house in Buenos Aires (in Calle 

 25 de Mayo). They result from the deposition on such articles as 

 calcareous concretions, bones, stone, etc., of ferruginous and perhaps 

 other salts dissolved from the ground and carried by water, and in 

 common with calcareous sediments in the cavities or on the surface 

 of objects need under favorable circumstances no great duration of 

 time for their formation. 



