20 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 66 



animals trapped at that time sanlv to tlio position in wliich tliey were foimd in 

 the excavjitions ; and tliat after tlie removal of the upper deposits by erosion 

 the later or younger fauna was trapped and mingled with the few bones of 

 earlier date. 



The human bones were all found in tlx; noi-th chimney, where the history of 

 accumulation is more complicated than in the south vent. The pit containing 

 the human remains also contains all of the presumably associated specimens 

 representing extinct animals. 



The luunan remains were found rather widely scattered between a depth 

 of about 6 feet and 9 feet. The whole collection of human bones seems to 

 represent one individual. The bones are generally very much worn. The 

 wear in some cases suggests movement within the pit in such a manner that 

 sand in the tar, or resting against the wall of the chimney, has cut away the 

 bone by long-continued rubbing. 



Enough of the human skeleton was found in the pit to give a fairly satisfac- 

 tory idea as to the characteristics of the individual it represents. The skull 

 is that of a small person of middle age, possibly a woman. The brain case is 

 relatively as large as that in some of the living native races of America. Ac- 

 cording to Dr. A. L. Kroeber the racial characteristics do not differ decidedly 

 from those of people whose x*emains have been excavated in mounds on Santa 

 Ivosa Island off the coast of southern California. So far as the characteristics 

 of the skeleton are concerned, it is not necessary to suppose that we have here 

 an individual who lived at a remote time when the human family was in a 

 relatively low stage of evolution. This skull is not comparable to those of 

 ancient races of the Neanderthal or earlier types. On the other hand, one 

 nmst not forget that people of a fairly advanced stage of brain development 

 \\ere already in existence at the beginning of the present or Recent geological 

 period. 



The characters of the human remains taken by themselves indicate that this 

 person lived either within the present or Recent period, or at a time not earlier 

 than the end of the Pleistocene period inmiediately preceding it. 



A summary of available information regarding the age of the human skele- 

 ton found in pit 10 at Rancho La Brea is as follows: 



1. The evidence of geologic occurrence in the as])halt chinmey, taken by itself, 

 counts for relatively little owing to the peculiar conditions under which these 

 deposits are formed. In so far as this is of value it suggests an age later than 

 that of the tar pits containing the typical Rancho La Brea fauna. 



2. The fauna associated with the human remains in pit 10 is quite diffei'ent 

 from the typical Pleistocene Rancho La Brea fauna, and must have inhabited 

 tiiis region at a different period. The fauna in pit 10 is closely related to that 

 of the present or Recent period. It is distinctly later in age than the typical 

 Rancho I^a Brea faima. 



3. The characters of the human remains, taken by themselves, show a stage 

 of development similar to that of man of the present day and not earlier than 

 man of the latest Pleistocene time. 



4. The evidence as a whole indicates that the human skeleton from pit 10 

 is of a period much later than that of the typical Rancho La Brea fauna, the 

 time being either within the Recent period or not earlier than the very latest 

 portion of Pleistocene time. The possible association of the. human remains 

 with extinct forms, such as the giant Tcrntomi^, may indicate some antiquity 

 for the human being or may indicate comparatively late persisten^-e of birds 

 or manuuals now extinct in this region. 



5. Measured in terms of years, it is not possil)le to give a definite estimate 

 of the age of the skeleton from pit 10. It may suffice to state that this person 



