16 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY. 
If “cave men,” using this term to designate the predeces- 
sors of any race or tribe known to history, ever existed in 
the Mississippi Valley, we would find in no part of it natural 
features better adapted for his requirements than the Ozark 
Hills, but so far not the slightest trace of his presence has 
been revealed. Products of human industry have been 
reported as occurring under other conditions at great depths, 
even at the bottom of the loess, though im all such cases 
there is some uncertainty as to the correctness of the obser- 
vations. On the contrary, whatever may be the depth of the 
deposit containing them, the artificial objects exhumed are 
uniform in character from top to bottom. The specimens 
found on the clay or solid rock floor are of the same class as 
those barely covered by the surface earth. Moreover, when 
they cease to appear they cease absolutely. 
By careful search in the caves and rock shelters of which 
the Indian known to history availed himself, extensive and 
interesting museum collections can be made. To find an 
earlier man, it will be necessary to investigate caverns 
which he found suitable for occupancy and in which the 
accumulation of detritus, from whatever source, has been 
sufficient to cover his remains so deeply that they can not 
be confused with those of a later period, and it may be 
necessary to discover with them bones of extinct animals. 
No examination of a cavern is complete unless a depth is 
reached where glacial deposits are undeniably of such age as 
to antedate the possible appearance of man upon the scene. 
The Ozark region promises important revelations in the study 
of prehistoric man in America. 
Mr. Fowke has thoroughly investigated one of the caves 
in this region and has prepared an important report on his 
work which will later be published by the bureau. He has 
also transmitted to the National Museum a collection which 
is the largest yet obtained from this locality. The results 
of the work thus far are technical and can not be adequately 
stated in this place, but are not only very important addi- 
tions to the archeology of the region investigated but also 
highly significant in comparative studies of ancient man in 
North America. 
