The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-03
The PREHISTORIC MAN
WAS NOT AN AMERICAN

In the United States National Museum
taken from caves in the same county, TO
which no great age can be attached.
THE skull from Rock Bluff. IN. now in
the United States National Museum.
claims for the antiquity OF which were
based mainly on the long sloping fore
head and generally developed shape, Is
likewise very similar to more or less
modern Indian skulls in the same collec-
ton.
"The man OF Penyon was quarried up
in 1884 In the Valley OF Mexico. The
skeleton was embedded In limestone. but
not far away were found fragments of
Aztec pottery and roots OF modern plants.
1t can hardly be very ancient.
'"The number of skulls and bones un-
earthed near Trenton, some OF which are
now in the museum at Harvard. are be-
lieved by some to furnish evidence that
man was here before the glaciers came.
Although most OF the bones may be posi-
lively identified as Indian. two skulls are
so different from the rest that they have
puzzled many. They are OF a type for
eign to any known Indian heads and only
after several years search was / able to
associate them with anything yet discov-
cred. Descriptions Of skulls of peoples or
tho northwestern coast OF Germany and
Holland and on the islands OF the Zuyder
Zee finally tailed so we'll with these that
/ j concluded they are probably the re-
I
] What is known as the fossil man of
western Florida includes a number of
! finds dating back as far as 1871, most OF
which are now in the National Museum.
In makeup careful examination shows
they bear a marked likeness to recent In
dian bones with not single feature In
dcatlve Of zoologically lower or other
wise substantially different type OF hu-
manity. An expert from the United States
Geological Survey in going over the
ground, found many pieces OF modern
shells and other evidences that the soil
Is not very ancient. Investigation OF In
dian mounds In the locality brought to
light other fossilized indian skulls of sim
liar structure
THE NEBRASKA "LoESS MAN"
THE most recent OF all these discov-
cries. the Nebraska 'loess man. unearth-
ed with other skeletons from mounds by
r.. + Glider. Prof F. H. Barbour of the
University OF Nebraska and others, last
year. Is perhaps OF greatest present In
terest. II has been discussed in print by
some OF the leading men OF science In the
country. The most significant bones lay
deep down In the mounds below Others
above them An exhaustive examinatio
OF them however. has led to the follow.
ing conclusions:
IF the present knowledge concerning
these specimens is impartially considered
IL Is apparent that the theory OF a NOR,
than recent geological origin OF any o
them meets with serious objections
while on the other hand no insurmounta
bic obstacle appears I'm connection will
the assumption that all are comparative
ly recent
"BurrCwing animals might well hav
! carried bones through their tunnels 4
! deeper levels. There are marks OF gnaw
ing on some of the deep bones they ar
just like bones at higher levels as far n
discoloration, consistency and marking
; 60. Nome OF the deeper bones have bee
; scratched by some sort OF knife. and sim
ilar scratches are on recent bones I'm tn
same mounds. skulls OF low forehead an
! pronounced ridges. like one OF these, oc
cur occasionally among modern Indians
e I'm fact, there Is little 20 support a classi
- hcation Of the bones found In the ancien
{ soil apart from many others found nea
4 tho surface. This has led me strongly {
e. question any claims OF antiquity for IN
e Nebraska remains
In connection with these investigation
l have recently completed extensive stud
Q les OF a large number OF skulls in IN
y collection OF the United States Nations
i Museum Among other things, these stud
q les have established the fact that no gres
n reliance can be placed upon a low sloI
ing forehead and prominent ridges in d,
a termining the degree OF development {
I the antiquity or skulls"