778 REVIEWS 



The various finds of human remains in North America for which geological 

 antiquity has been claimed have been thus briefly passed under review. It is 

 seen that, irrespective of other considerations, in every instance where enough 

 of the bones is preserved for comparison the somatological evidence bears witness 

 against the geological antiquity of the remains and for their close affinity to or 

 identity with those of the modern Indian. Under these circumstances but one 

 conclusion is justified, which is that thus far on this continent no human bones 

 of undisputed geological antiquity are known. This must not be regarded as 

 equivalent to a declaration that there was no early man in this country; it means 

 only that if early man did exist in North America, convincing proof of the fact 

 from the standpoint of physical anthropology still remains to be produced. 



Referring particularly to the Nebraska "loess man," the mind searches in vain 

 for solid ground on which to base an estimate of more than moderate antiquity 

 for the Gilder Mound specimens. The evidence as a whole only strengthens 

 the above conclusion, that the existence on this continent of a man of distinctly 

 primitive type and of exceptional geological antiquity has not as yet been proved. 



There may be discouragement in these repeated failures to obtain satisfac- 

 tory evidence of man's antiquity in America, but there is in this also a stimulus 

 to renewed, patient, careful, scientifically conducted and checked exploration; 

 and, as Professor Barbour says in one of his papers on the Nebraska find, "the 

 end to be attained is worth the energy to be expended." A satisfactory demon- 

 stration of the presence of a geologically ancient man on this continent would form 

 an important link in the history of the American race, and of mankind in general. 

 The Missouri and Mississippi drainage areas offer exceptional opportunities for 

 the discovery of this link of humanity if such really exists. 



T. C. C. 



