been seen by Mr. Glass with the original gravel adhering to them. They are readily noticeable as being the only large stones in the white gravel. I may add that the top soil overlying the lava cap is very thin and certainly does not contain these mortars. Occasionally mortars are found on the surface in the neighbouring gulches, but only where the gulch has intersected the gravels, and these mortars are clearly derived from the old white gravels. 4. Description of the Mortar. The mortar I obtained is composed of some eruptive or metamorphoric rock, which has become so decomposed as not to be easily determinable. Its outside measurements are 9 inches by 74 inches by 64 inches, but some specimens are rather larger, others somewhat smaller. The hollow measures 6 inches by 5 inches and is about 5 inches deep. It still retains traces of having been used for grinding. The external shape is irregularly oval and shows distinct traces of chipping. The rock has disintegrated to a light brown colour like many acid rocks, and this and the very rolled character of the utensil gives the appearance of great antiquity. 5. The Digger Indians. This country was inhabited by the Digger Indians until about the year 1865. My friend, Mr. Glass, was well acquainted with them, and assures me that they did not use such mortars : they hollowed out rocks in situ, and therein pounded the acorns on which they so largely subsisted, They were acquainted with these mortars, but knew nothing about the makers of them, and held them in such superstitious dread that on no account could they be induced to touch one. This dread of the relics of past ages seems to be everywhere common and is of itself proof of antiquity. 6. Age of the Gravels. If these mortars had not been found in the gravels American geologists would never have doubted their Tertiary age, but when relics of man are demonstrated to exist therein, even in the older blue gravels, one may well hesitate to ascribe to them so great an antiquity. Even before visiting California I had suspected these old river gravels might be contemporaneous with the glacial epoch, and I still think this possible. This area was not glaciated and these old gravels, hundreds of feet in thickness, may very well represent that great interval of time occupied in other regions by the glacial periods. This would bring the mortars to approximately the same age as the paleolithic implements discovered by me in East Anglia. It must be admitted that this is only a surmise, but if it be rejected there remains no alternative but to ascribe these relics to Tertiary times. 7. Conclusions. 1. These mortars are undoubtedly artificial. 2. They come from the old valley gravels. 3. These gravels are universally believed to be at least as old as Pliocene times. 4. I would suggest they may be of glacial age. 5. The immense antiquity of the gravels is shown— (a.) By the present river systems being of subsequent (c.) By the fact that the Sierra Nevada has been partly Explanation of Plate VIII. Sketch section from the the Sacramento River to the Sierra Nevada, through Spring Valley Gold Mine, showing the geological position in which the stone mortars are found. DISCUSSION. Mr. RUDLER remarked that in approaching the discussion of this subject it was necessary in the first place to decide whether the object in question which had been described as a mortar, was, or was not, of human workmanship. If proved of human workmanship, it then became needful to enquire whether it really came from the gravel to which it had been referred. And finally, if satisfied on this point, it remained to determine whether the gravel was of the high antiquity which had been suggested. As to the first question, he believed, after some familiarity with the natural forms assumed by concretions and nodules, that the object which he exhibited to the meeting on behalf of Mr. Skertchly had certainly been fashioned by the hand of man. Although rough, it bore, in the speaker's opinion, indubitable traces of having been artificially wrought. The material seemed to be a trachytic rock, and this had not only been hollowed out with some regard to symmetry but showed on the outside evident marks of chipping. According to the testimony of Mr. Amos Bowman, formerly attached to the Geological Survey of California, one of these objects was found in an upright position with a pestle in it-an association which would place the original purpose of the hollowed stone beyond all dispute. It may seem strange that mortars are almost the only human relics found in this locality, but they have probably survived by reason of their strength and solidity, while smaller and more fragile articles had perished. As the mortars are generally found in the gravel after it has been washed down in the course of hydraulic mining, there seems room for some doubt as to the position which they originally occupied. But Prof. Whitney has cited the evidence of several observers, who testify that they have taken these objects out of undisturbed gravels. There appears no reason to suppose that the mortars had been buried by the Digger Indians, or that they had been accidently washed into the auriferous gravels from superficial deposits: indeed it is believed by eminent authorities who are familiar with the locality that such explanations are indefensible, and that the original position of the mortars in the gravels is beyond all possibility of cavil. Finally, there remains the question of the age of the gravels. The section in Plate VIII, at once suggests a very high antiquity for these deposits, inasmuch as they are evidently anterior not only to the volcanic activity represented by the outflow of basaltic lava, but also and this is more important-to the subsequent erosion of the valley by river-action to a depth of several hundred feet. The evidence thus afforded by the physical features of the district is supported and strengthened by the fact that the gold-bearing gravels contain bones of the mastodon and other extinct mammalia. Whether the geological antiquity of these deposits be as high as has been assumed by certain American writers may be a question still open to discussion; and Mr. Skertchly's suggestion that they should be regarded as Glacial rather than as Pliocene will certainly commend itself to those anthropologists who are disposed to exercise a wholesome spirit of caution in dealing with the geological antiquity of man. Mr. T. V. HOLMES thought that if Mr. Skertchly had not been misinformed on any points, and the facts were as described, they had in this case more decisive evidence of the great antiquity of man than he had ever met with before. The section showed what immense changes had taken place in the physical geography of the district since the mortars became imbedded in these ancient river deposits, and these deposits had been covered by the basaltic cap, now largely denuded away. As to the mortars themselves, a single one might possibly be explained away as showing but an accidental likeness to a work of art, but that objection must fall to the ground, if, as stated, about 300 mortars had been found in the same beds. 338 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. JANUARY 24TH, 1888. Prof. FLOWER, C.B., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Minutes of the last Anniversary Meeting were read and signed. The CHAIRMAN declared the ballot open and appointed Mr. T. V. HOLMES and Dr. SUMMERHAYES Scrutineers. Mr. A. L. LEWIS, the TREASURER, read the following report for the year 1887 TREASURER'S REPORT FOR 1887. The total receipts for the year 1887 have been 6467. 3s. 1d. being 117. 15s. 9d. less than in 1886, but this amount will probably be more than made up by the value of the subscriptions which have yet to be received, as compared with the value of those outstanding last year. I say the value, because the nominal amount of arrears carried forward is about the same, but some which were brought forward last year and have been proved to be valueless have been struck off during the year, so that those now carried forward are, it is hoped, more valuable, and some have in fact been paid during the present month. The result of an examination of the composition of the receipts is not quite so satisfactory; the subscriptions actually received being 5197. 15s., as against 543l. 17s. in 1886, although four life compositions were received in 1887 as against one in 1886, the nett diminution in annual subscriptions being 631.; some of this apparent difference may, however, be found to be made up hereafter, when all the arrears are settled; it being a disadvantage of a statement of receipts and payments that the transactions belonging to different years get mixed together. The amounts received for interest and sale of publications are a few shillings in excess of those received in 1886, and we have in 1887 an item in our statement, which was not in that of the previous year, in the shape of donations, the President having kindly presented us with the gross amount received for his recent lectures at the South Kensington Museum. I may mention that three out of the four life compositions received were from old annual members who had previously paid a considerable amount in annual subscriptions. The payments for the year 1887 have been 6347. 14s. 9d., being 801. 28. 10d. less than in 1886. The items in which an apparent increase occurs are salary and commission, and house expenses, on account of their having been paid up closer to date; while there is a decrease in office expenses, stamps, miscellaneous printing, and in cost of the Journal (principally in the illustrations). The diminution of expense in this matter has not, however, been due to any false economy on the part of those responsible for the Journal, but to the fact that the papers published have not required many illustrations. There were 117. 8s. 4d. more in hand at the end of 1887 than at the beginning of that year. A. L. LEWIS, Treasurer. 2 A VOL. XVII. |