HUMAN REMAINS : DISCUSSION OF THE EVIDENCE 



281 



of prehistoric man in the Coast Ranges has been regarded by some as being 

 strongly indicative of the improbability of his existence in the Sierra. But 

 this appears to the writer, on the other hand, confirmatory evidence of the 

 genuineness of the discoveries in the mining region. It will be made appar- 

 ent, in a future chapter, that there are strong reasons — if the past geologi- 

 cal history of the Pacific Coast has been made out with some approxima- 

 tion to correctness — for believing that man could not have maintained an 

 existence on the Coast Ranges any earlier than towards the very close of 

 the Pliocene epoch. 



The considerations here adduced, taken in connection with the large body 

 of facts which have been presented in the preceding pages, seem to justify 

 the belief that it is not possible for any candid mind to deny that the 

 human race has existed, during a prehistoric period of great length, con- 

 temporaneously with a fauna which has now entirely passed away. That 

 man co-existed with the elephant and mastodon and other extinct animals 

 has been abundantly proved by the — so to speak — every-day occurrence 

 of proofs of his former presence in connection with the remains of those 

 animals, at all depths up to a hundred feet or more. To go one step farther, 

 and admit that there is ample evidence of the existence of man in California 

 previous to the cessation of volcanic activity and to the erosion of the deep 

 canons of the Sierra, will probably be to many persons a more difficult mat- 

 ter. And yet, incredible as the facts may appear, it is difficult to see how 



Leaving out of consideration the Calaveras skull, we 

 have such evidence as that of Dr. Boyce and Mr. Hubbs, which appears as 

 clear and direct as possible, while it is also amply supported by other reported 

 facts from various quarters which it seems in no way reasonable to ignore. 

 That a deposit of human bones should be opened in some position clearly 

 anterior to the period of the basalt, and remain accessible to geologists 

 for an indefinite period, so that they might all go there and dig for them- 

 selves, is hardly to be expected, after all that has been stated with regard 

 to the gravel deposits in the preceding pages. It is much more likely 

 that general belief in the existence of man in California during the Tertiary 

 epoch will be brought about by the gradual accumulation of similar facts 

 from other portions of the world. The discoveries made in Europe, which 

 have already obtained general credence, carry man back close to the verge 

 °f the Tertiary ; if not, indeed, a little the other side of the line. 



Other facts, which seem equally well vouched for, but which have not met 



they can be set aside. 



