The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1846-11-02
From the Philadelphia U. S. Gazette.
FOSSIL REMAINS OF MAN


There is now deposited at the rooms of the
Academy OF Natural Science, in this CITY, the
| &C 90 9nnOmHlGtG," or bones Of the pevis belong.
ing to the human species, recently found fossil
! by Dr. NJ. W. Dickerson, native of this city. in
the Mammoth Ravine near Nachez, Mississipni
in the qualification with the bones of the
Megatherium, Milodon, Megalonyx, the Tapir
Castroides, Zebra, Bison Elk, gigantic Hotse
and nondescript animal discovered also by Dr.
! DickersOn, and below those of the Maslodon and
| stratum containing marine shells
This discovery is perhaps the most remarkable
one that has lately characterized the progress of
modern Geology, and its announcement at the
meeting of the Association of American Geolo-
gists" in September excited degree of interest
proportonable to its scientific Importance. We
had ourselves settled down quietly into the opin
ion OF the &c Savans,'' that however ancient tho
rocky strata OF the earth man at least must be of
comparatively recent origin, his remains never
having been before found as proper fossil in any
OF the upper tertiary, Cor newer Pliocene) or old
er formations. But this fact if it be real, proves
him to have been, for period al least contemno
raneous with the monsters of the olden time that
before the subsistence of the primeva oceans. in
habited this continent We could imagine this
bone to have fallen into fsSure produced NV
earthquake. or to have come to its position in sew
eral other ways; but we understand that fine
facts, as they have passed under the severe scru-
uny oil the ablest geologists in the country seyc-
raj OF whom, at the meeting of the Association
exerted themselves in defence of their previous
theories, are such as not to be explained by sun.
positions OF this kind
Not only was the bone found in the strata STRAIT
lhcatlon with those OF the animals above mention.
e1, but 1t has also the appearance of having been
entombed, at the same time being, in the opinion
OF those VINO ought to be judges of such matters
In the same stage of perfect ossiliZaton
no l. 4. -
seven miles in length, about $50 feet wide. and
from 80 to 10 feet in depth but in 1911 its site
was occupied by ponds and carriage road passed
over IT, The ponds became drained in conse-
quence OF the earthquake which happened about
that time, and the action of the water has since
excavated the ravine in which these fossils oc-
cur.
We are told that there is some question amongst
geoiogIsts as to the relative antiquity of these Tor
matons-some conceiving them to belong to the
upper tertiary or newer Pliocene of Mr. LyeU
aud others regarding them as even older Mr.
Lyell himself when last IN this country. spent
several days in examining the 10 alities in con-
hectloh with Dr. Dickerson, and came to the con-
cluslon that these must be g old" formations.
II they are indeed the equivalent of the newer
| Fllocene, then, according TO the estimate of
sclentlhc friend at our elbow, who has made some
calculations as 10 the probable age of Mount
E'ha' winch this formation underlies the human
being to which the bone in question belonged NAV
| nave died some myriads OF years ago-making
hlm, IN the language of the President of the Ge-
oioglcal society OF France, now in this city,
every old gentleman"
But these are questions for those who have
more leisure for geological Investigations than we:
ana therefore, though none of the alleged discoy-
eres OF science have lattery surprised us so much
as thls we leave the whole subject in the hands
oil the Swans OF our country, who, we doubt MT
will do it ample Justice
NO other bones, belonging to the human skele
ton, were at the time obtained, in consequence ot
the extreme danger from the falling i'm of the su
Perlncumbent and overhangng cliffs but we
understand that DIR. Dickerson will return TO the
south In the course of few weeks tn resnre
his researches. We shall look with interest for
the result and not the less in Consideration NJ tbe
TACT that he is native of Philadelphia.
lie has also brought to this CITY numerous in
terestng relics taken from the ancient mounds
ana indicative OF greater advance in the arts
amongst the older aborignes, than obtains at This
day with the present Indian tribes.
A WORD TO THE WHIGs. 1t Is tho nol;cv
OF our opponents to present the appearance of in
acuVlty, or even Indifference, whist ALI the Time
they are really working in the most effective
hahner-Seeretty. Talk with some active lead.
ing iat, and our word for it, he will tell
you his party is doing nothing and intend to do
hotnlng-that 1t is OF no use, anu thew NAV as
wen let the Wings walk over the course without