Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 1.djvu/135

 1 14 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [n. s., i, 1899

remains of fossil animals and plants, and some appear to be from gravels that antedate the volcanic era.

INCONGRUITIES IN THE EVIDENCE

In comparing these four groups of remains we observe that the fossil animals belong without exception to extinct species, that the plants are likewise extinct, and that all of both groups take their place naturally within the limits of the Neocene. When, however, we examine the human remains, we are met by the striking fact that they do not represent an extinct form, or even a well-marked variety of Homo sapiens, but a people struc- turally identical with ourselves ; and it therefore takes a great stretch of the imagination to conceive that this man could have formed part of a fauna every other mammalian member of which has succumbed during the uncounted ages of succeeding geologic periods.

On examining the art remains it is found that they also seem out of place in Tertiary times, that they present a decidedly modern aspect. Of the fifteen or twenty varieties reported from the gravels by Whitney and others, all are of recent types — are identical with the stone implements used by the native tribes of California today or in the recent past. If these forms are really of Tertiary origin, we have here one of the greatest marvels yet encountered by science; and perhaps if Professor Whitney had fully appreciated the story of human evolution as it is under- stood today, he would have hesitated to announce the conclusions formulated, notwithstanding the imposing array of testimony with which he was confronted. To suppose that man could have remained unchanged physically; to suppose that he could have remained unchanged mentally, socially, industrially, and esthetic- ally for a million years, roughly speaking, (and all of this is implied by the evidence furnished,) is to suppose a miracle.

Professor Whitney believed the implements found were just

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