60 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL, ee, HRDLICKA] 
The tooth found in the northern bank is the crown shell of the 
second left upper molar of a child. It is of moderate size and shows 
only some individual variations from other Indian teeth of that 
nature. 
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 
The only conclusions concerning the Yero bones that the writer can 
arrive at, after a painstaking study of the locality and the specimens 
and after having given due consideration to the opinions of others, are 
that they are remains of modern Indian type ; and that, so far as the 
two skeletons are concerned, they represent intentional burials. As 
to the latter point, all other explanations, on being tested, prove so 
much weaker or so unnatural that they have to be discarded. 
The age of the strata and the determination and age of the animal 
remains found in them are matters quite irrelevant to the discussion 
of the human bones. The deposits could be much older or much 
younger than claimed; they could be original or secondary all this 
is immaterial so long as they could have been penetrated a few hun 
dred years ago by man who wanted to bury his dead ; and that they 
could have been thus penetrated at any time up to the present there 
is no question. The pottery and implements, as is true of the bones, 
are of modern Indian type (pi. 14). It would be futile to try to ex 
plain this away by unsubstantiated theories of a possible great an 
tiquity of such modern forms, culturally and anatomically. No one 
could give consideration to theories which would do such violence to 
known facts. That such speculations have been indulged in on other 
occasions would be a poor excuse for trying to have us accept the 
theories they advance as facts, especially on this continent. Those in 
whose work credulity and fancy have no part, and who possess suf 
ficient hard-earned experience in these matters, can be convinced of 
the presence of geologically ancient man in America only by facts 
that will make all conscientious doubt on the subject impossible. As 
chances of peculiar associations of human bones or human artifacts 
are infinite, anthropology in. this country must expect to be called 
upon again and again to pass on alluring claims of the antiquity of 
such objects. But the burden of proof of the antiquity of such finds 
lies, and will always lie, with those who may urge such claims. 
They must show clear, full, conclusive evidence acceptable to an 
thropology; and no beliefs, opinions, or &quot;convictions,&quot; even though 
advanced by men otherwise highly deserving, can ever take the place 
of real and sufficient evidence. Our colleagues in collateral branches 
of science will be sincerely thanked for every genuine help they can 
give anthropology ; but they should not clog our hands. 
