60 BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull, ee, hrdi.t? ka] 



The tooth fouiul in the northern bank is the crown shell of the 

 second left upper molar of a child. It is cf moderate size and shows 

 only some individual variations from other Indian teeth of that 

 nature. 



General Conclusions 



The only conclusions concerning the Vero bones that the writer can 

 arrive at, after a painstaking- study of the locality and the specimens 

 and after having given due consideration to the opinions of others, are 

 that they are remains of modern Indian type; and that, so far as the" 

 two skeletons are concerned, they represent intentional burials. As 

 to the latter point, all other explanations, on being tested, prove so 

 much weaker or so unnatural tliat they have to be discarded. 



The age of the strata and the determination and age of the animal 

 remains found in them are matters quite irrelevant to the discussion 

 of the human bones. The deposits could be much older or much 

 younger than claimed; they could be original or secondary — all this 

 is immaterial so long as they could have been penetrated a few hun- 

 dred years ago by man who wanted to bury his dead; and that they 

 could have been thus penetrated at any time up to the present there 

 is no question. The pottery and implements, as is true of the bones, 

 are of modern Indian type (pi. 14). It would be futile to try to ex- 

 plain this away by unsubstantiated theories of a possible great an- 

 tiquity of such modern forms, culturally and anatomically. No one 

 could give consideration to theories which would do such violence to 

 knoAvn facts. That such speculations have been indulged in on other 

 occasions would be a poor excuse for trying to have us accept the 

 theories they advance as facts, especially on this continent. Those in 

 whose work credulity and fancy have no part, and wdio possess suf- 

 ficient hard-earned experience in these matters, can be convinced of 

 the presence of geologically ancient man in America only by facts 

 that will make all conscientious doubt on the subject impossible. As 

 chances of peculiar associations of human bones or human artifacts 

 are infinite, anthropology in this country must expect to be called 

 upon again and again to pass on alluring claims of the antiquity of 

 such objects. But the burden of proof of the antiquity of such finds 

 lies, and will always lie, with those who ma}^ urge such claims. 

 They must show clear, full, conclusive evidence acceptable to an- 

 thropology; and no beliefs, opinions, or "convictions," even though 

 advanced by men otherwise highly deserving, can ever take the place 

 of real and sufficient evidence. Our colleagues in collateral branches 

 of science will l)e sincerely thanked for every genuine help they can 

 give anthropology; but they should not clog our hands. 



