New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-08
NAN AND 7HE MASIODON
THEORIES OF THEIR co-ExIsIENCE.
PROFESSOR PUTNAN's REPORT on THE SKELETONS
:. AELiL-sLII..

PROFESSOR PUTNAMs REPORT oN THE SKELETONS
KiCsNrIY FOUND ~ MASsACHTsErT'.
EOSToN, Nov. 7 (SpccoD .-The tndlng OF the
Si' teeth aud parts of the skull Of ma odoh hs wen
"a human skull ut Nortborough Mass. has already
been noted and II thought that the discovery hlSu
prove The co-cVstence OF uiau and the mast"doh ITO
lessor v. ". PGtuau. o! Cambridge was invited 10 III
Scct the relies ana the place where they we're iodnH ana
IN the current number ol ScHcs ne makes the IO!IoWhS
report:
va' unable to visit tie place until October H. four
DAY after the skull had been found IN this visit ma'e
careful study OF the peat formation and the underlying
blue clay, which he the boulder clay, covering
the toom OF the basin old pond which Il soue four
y five acres IN over tn. huc clay containing
both round and split the deposit Of peat has taken
place.
- The two skulls, uas;odon and human, were unQnes
nnaly NJ the bottom OF this peat both resting on the
bluc clay; bat owing to tho inclination Of tie BASIN
toward tic northeast fIom Tie spot where the human
Enll was olud there feet less of peat over II
than over the mdsodon. The qualification II the peat
was marked md the lower portion Immediately coy er
IN The two skulls Is eXcccliuly fine and evidently de-
po-t made entirely under Above th, the peat Is
slightly colrser wach character increases to the sur
lace While few small pieces OF wood we're found at
ihs Ooton Of the peat. several large lOt'. ana what
.eHn, Ia c tie remains II partly burnt stump were
10 tbi, dcptn heavy objects could have readily sHnk
ti"ds the coarse or more open formation above nut
skull siung through the lower TWO feet 10 the hard pan
az any time subsequent to the formations o that stratum
iha both skull, transported seems To he proved ~
the TACT that other bones ~ the two skeletons were
found in the immediate vicinity, and that 4hcy were
transported 10y water before the peat deposit began
seems probable. The broken portions OF the human
-kui nave the appearance Ol has Ing been worn ny Tue
waters action, aHi the separation OF The Jaw ana
crihlln would also indicate that Eethod OF removal
rom Ito rest OF the skeleton. Had IL been settling OF
heavy BODY through tho peat We could hardly eAp'ci
tha the skull and Jaw alone would have ,'ed 10 para
pan ana the ~ the bones ri the skeleton TO nave
been nowhere them. and TIE same remark WDud
apply 10 the skull ol tho ma,tudUn.
The skull has been placed my hands FOR careful study
and cuVI arson aud hope to re aulc 10 give ac
mite Information in rgaId 10 it, Unfortunately he skull
l. not typical and the averaging ana cartlG oa
aucnr oi is character viii have to he made before us
aiGitc- Doe Determined. In regard to is Color
may add that 10 l. OF a. deep f not deeper brown IMAM
the bone Of the odun It's conf ar lively pctrrt
urc-rr'airn when compared wi the m'otodon 'N'l -
however remarkable. hut this could lee easily actouHtci
FOR by the longer OF the nasOdot homes on e
surface 0 gravel deposit before IL was washed ut" tc
basin"