270 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1912. 
the human remains of the Pyramid Age found in neighbouring sites of a 
somewhat later date. There are quite definite evidences of some racial 
influence alien to the Proto-Egyptian race; but the difficult problem is 
raised as to how much of the contrast in the features of the two popu- 
lations—Upper Egyptian and Lower Egyptian at the Second and Third 
Dynastic Period—are due to admixture and blending, and how much, 
if any, is due to the specialisation in type of the Delta portion of the 
Proto-Egyptian people. 
The investigation also revealed some suggestion of attempts at 
mummification as early as the Second Dynasty—a fact of some interest, 
as the earliest undoubted case of mummification is referred to the 
Fourth or Fifth Dynasty (more probably the latter); and no evidence 
has ever been obtained before of attempted mummification of a body 
which was not buried in the fully extended position. 
While in Egypt the Chairman took the opportunity of comparing 
the Sakkara skulls directly with the type collection of Predynastic 
skulls in the Anatomical Museum of the Cairo School of Medicine, and 
also with skulls of the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties at Dr. George 
Reisner’s excavations (for Harvard University and Boston Museum) at 
the Giza Pyramids. 
It is hoped that the Committee will secure any further material that 
may be found by Mr. Quibell during the coming season, and be able to 
fill up what has hitherto been the most serious lacuna in our knowledge 
of the physical characters of the ancient inhabitants of Egypt. 
The Lake Villages in the Neighbourhood of Glastonbury.—Report 
of the Committee, consisting of Dr. R. Munro (Chairman), 
Professor W. Boyp Dawkins (Secretary), Professor W. 
RipGEway, Sir ARTHUR J. Evans, Sir C. Hercunes Reap, 
Mr. H. Batrour, and Mr. A. BULLEID, appointed to investi- 
gate the Lake Villages in the Neighbourhood of Glastonbury 
in connection with a Committee of the Somersetshire 
Archeological and Natural History Society. (Drawn up by 
Mr. ArtTHuR BuLuerp and Mr. H. St. Grorce Gray, the 
Directors of the Excavations.) 
Tue third season’s exploration of the Meare Lake Village by the 
Somersetshire Archeological and Natural History Society began on 
May 27, 1912, and was continued for three weeks under the joint 
supervision of Messrs. Arthur Bulleid and H. St. George Gray. The 
ground excavated was situated in the same part of the village and was 
directly continuous with last year’s work. 
The digging included the examination of parts of the following 
mounds: N.E. portions of Mounds X. and XI., remaining from the 
excavations of last year; N. quarter of Mound XII., and the S.W. 
portions of Mounds XIII. and XIV. 
With the exception of Mounds XI. and XII., none of the above- 
