Uncovering the Ancient Life of Mexico

Abstract

One of the attractive features of paleontological study is the opportunity it often affords to investigate the geologic history and characteristic life of the past in strange and out-of-the-way places, and on occasion in foreign lands. While thus far it has not been possible for the Division of the Geological Sciences to finance expeditions far afield, the Institute is favorably situated with regard to the exploration of countries near at hand. For the land of Mexico immediately to the south has been until relatively recently a veritable terra incognita in so far as the history of its past vertebrate life is concerned. A little more than a decade ago the Geology Division, with the cordial permission of the Instituto de Geologia in Mexico City, began its paleontological investigations in southern Nuevo Leon, and the discovery of San Josecito cave and its significant and interesting record of life of the Ice Age have been described in these columns (Engineering and Science Monthly, September 1943).