Page:The Journal of geology (IA journalofgeology11893univ).pdf/29

most cases the evidence rests upon or consists of field observations, and these cannot be recalled or repeated, and there is absolutely no means of testing directly the value of what is recorded. One may seek either to verify or to discredit the promulgated theories, but years of search may fail to produce a single new item of evidence bearing decisively upon the subject. It is possible that at one period numerous finds of implements should be reported from certain portions of the gravels, and that afterwards the whole remaining body of these formations should be worked over and searched without securing a trace of art; yet this latter evidence, being negative, need not necessarily be considered sufficient to overturn the original positive evidence if that happens to be of a high class. There is not the least doubt, however, that positive evidence may be so impaired by various defects and inconsistencies, that, unsupported by renewed and well verified observations, it will finally yield to the negative forces; and if the theories of a gravel man in the eastern United States, howsoever fortified by accumulated observations, are not really properly supported in every way, they are bound in time to fall to the ground. All I can reasonably hope to do now is to have the evidence relating to glacial man placed on trial, and so fully examined and cross-examined that those who accept gravel man need not longer do so blindly without knowing that there are two sides to the question, and those who do not accept him may know something of the reasons for the belief that is in them.

The evidence employed to prove the presence of a race of men in the Delaware Valley in glacial times is confined almost wholly to the alleged discovery of rude implements in the glacial gravels. Practically all the evidence has been collected by Dr. C. C. Abbott, and upon his skill as an observer, his faithfulness as a recorder, his correctness of judgment and his integrity of character, the whole matter stands. Many visitors, men of high repute in archeology and geology, have visited the site, but the observations made on such occasions appear not to have been of a nature to be of great value in evidence, the finds being doubt-