MUNIZ—MC GEE] SYSTEMATIC MARKING OF CRANIA 65 
though not very deep scar midway hetween the left orbit and the 
crown, and a deeper scar near the center of the right parietal; while 
cranium 19 shows an inconspicuous mark of the usual character over 
the left temple, and in addition a considerable contusion by which the 
outer table is somewhat crushed and both tables depressed. These 
unmistakable records of traumatic history are additional to the opera- 
tions, single and multiple, and to the more or less extensive wounds 
with which several of them are connected. There are accordingly four 
classes of traumatic injuries represented, viz, (1) those produced by the 
trephining, (2) the antecedent fractures displayed by five of the crania, 
(5) the curious grooves over the temples exhibited by most of the spec- 
imens, and (4) the miscellaneous indentations and bone scars displayed 
by fully half the crania. Excluding the first three classes, the 19 speci- 
mens display no fewer than 14 traumatic lesions resulting from injuries 
to the head, which were more or less serious, yet always of such severity 
as to leave clear traces in the bony structure; and nearly all of these 
were anterior. The five wounds of the second class were of such sever- 
ity as almost necessarily to be mortal. This remarkable record of acci- 
dent indicates that the individuals lived eventful albeit short lives, 
and were inured to blood and pain and accustomed to facing danger. 
The peculiar scoring above the temples (of which 25 examples are dis- 
played by the 17 frontal bones) is much too regular to be ascribed to 
fortuitous wounding; without examination of a larger number of crania 
and careful consideration of their associations, these marks may not 
safely be interpreted; yet it may be suggested (the suggestion arising 
in analogies with other American aborigines) that they are records of 
ceremonial observances in which wounds were inflicted on young men 
chosen for initiation into militant or other orders. The scars indicate 
lesions no more serious and probably less painful than those of the 
Mandan and Hidatsa tribes of North America, while some of the Pueblo 
Indians, who are still more closely connected in culture with the South 
American peoples, have initiatory ceremonies involving symbolic wound- 
ing of the head, which can only be regarded as the vestige of an archaic 
custom of actual wounding in the initiation. So, too, the “scarred 
skulls from Florida,” recently brought to light by Cushing, are marked 
by regular ridges of papuloid bony growth, which seem to have resulted 
from the cicatrization of the scalp; the inference being that the marks 
were made in producing a permanent symbolic crest of hair, supple- 
mented by feathers, etc., to distinguish the warriors. ' 
Some indications of motive may be found in the antiquity of the 
collection, as evidenced by the methods of operating. In every case in 
which the marks of instrumentation are preserved they point clearly 
and unmistakably to the use of primitive tools, mainly or wholly of 
stone; there is no suggestion of the slightest value that metal was used 
in any part of the treatment; and while there is a certain similarity 

1 American Anthropologist, volume x, 1897, pp. 17-18. 
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