34 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULK, ee 
LIST OF MAMMALS FROM STRATUM 3 (P. 158) 
Didelphis virginiana Sylvilagus sp. Procyon lotor? 
Chlamytherium septen- Higmodon sp. Lutra canadensis 
trionalis Neotoma sp. Lynx sp. 
Dasypus sp.? Scalopus sp. Ursus indt. 
Odocoileus osceola Yulpes pennsylvanicus? 
Neofiber alleni Canis sp. cf. C. latrans 
Dr. Sellards^ s opinion: On the basis of the foregoing data, Dr. Sel 
lards reaches the conclusion that, so far as Skeleton I is concerned 
[Pp. 133-134.1 Since the stratum holding the bones lies near the surface, the 
possibility of the human bones having been placed in it by burial must be con 
sidered, although in case of a burial it seems probable that more of the skeleton 
would have been found. Since being dug, the canal has gradually widened by 
the caving of the banks, and at the place where the human bones were found 
the rock at the top of the section had broken from the ledge and lay inclined on 
the canal bank, having moved somewhat from its original position. When in 
place, however, this rock rested above the human bones. The sand in which 
the bones were imbedded had not been disturbed. Moreover, the human bones 
are thoroughly mineralized, and it is highly improbable that a recent skeleton, 
if placed in these beds, would have become equally as well mineralized as the 
much older Pleistocene bones. Without doubt the mineralization of the bones 
is the result of the slow chemical changes by which bones are altered while 
being fossilized, a process which at this locality has affected alike, although 
in a slight varying degree, all of the bones of the deposit. 
As to Skeleton II, Dr. Sellards believes (p. 139) that the bones 
cannot represent a recent burial, as is &quot; evident from the undisturbed 
condition of the laminated beds lying above this stratum&quot; which 
contained them. Speaking of stratum No. 2 in his summary, he also 
reiterates that &quot; the human remains are fossils normal to this horizon 
and were not introduced by burial.&quot; In conclusion, Dr. Sellards 
ventures to state unqualifiedly (p. 160) that, &quot; By these discoveries 
in Florida the contemporaneity of man with a Pleistocene fauna is 
definitely established for the first time in America.&quot; Similar decisive 
statements are found in his correspondence and in his other publi 
cations on the subject. 1 
CRITICAL CONSIDERATION OF THE YERO FINDS 
In deciding questions of so great importance as the presence 
of the remains of early man in any part of the American Continent, 
it would seem only prudent that in any given case final positive con 
clusions should be deferred until the evidence shall have been sub 
mitted to and considered by those who through their training and 
experience can be assumed to have special qualifications for the 
1 An article by Dr. Sellards under the title &quot; Further Notes on Human Remains from 
Vero, Florida,&quot; appeared since this report is in print in the American Anthropologist 
(April-June, 1917). It reasserted the author s belief in the antiquity of the bones, 
without producing any new data. 
