Prehistoric North America

of these conditions as the goal toward which all their investigations and theories must tend, as it is evident that these conditions were the results of the evolutionary activities of the prehistoric past. Since it is the prevalent opinion that the earliest human population of the Western Hemisphere was introduced from the Old World, and since the discussion of the genesis of the type of mankind inhabiting the American continent hardly falls within the purview of history, this opinion has been accepted. Similarly, the authors have thought it better to express the prevailing opinion that man's appearance in America was postglacial, since this work is not a suitable place for a detailed discussion of the meagre body of archaeo- logic evidence indicating an earlier advent. The intent has been to present briefly the opposing views and then leave in abeyance the question of man's antiquity in America. One chief object in view has been to give in a clear and popular form an outline of the progress, up to the present time, in the investigations and study of the prehistoric era in North America, presenting our own views on the several questions which arise, in regard to which we have reached conclusions satisfactory to ourselves, and also wherever it has been deemed proper to do so. One result of our study of the data relating to prehistoric America has been our own conviction that physical environment in its broad sense has had more to do in shaping the character of man...