The Prehistoric World or Vanished races Part 6

(12) The following animals are given as southern species: Hippopotamus, African elephant, spotted hyena, striped hyena, serval, caffer cat, lion, leopard. In addition to the above there were also four or five species of elephants and three species of rhinoceros, which have since become extinct.

(Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 32.) (13) It is scarcely necessary to give a list of these animals.

Prof. Dawkins enumerates thirty-three species. The following are some of the most important: Urus, bison, horse, stag, roe, beaver, rabbit, otter, weasel, martin, wildcat, fox, wolf, wild boar, brown bear, grizzly bear. (Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe,"

p, 32.) (14) Dawkins's "Early Man in Britain," p. 191.

(15) Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," p. 316.

(16) Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 87.

(17) Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 50.

(18) Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 54.

(19) Ibid., p. 55.

(20) Kane's "Arctic Exploration," Vol. I, p. 225.

(21) Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 180.

(22) Wallace's "Island Life," p. 104.

(23) Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 189.

(24) Ibid., p. 192, _et seq._ (25) Dawkins's "Early Man in Britain."

(26) For fuller information on this topic see James Geikie's "The Great Ice Age;" also, by the same author, "Prehistoric Europe." In Appendix "B" of this latter work the author gives a map of Europe at the climax of the Glacial Age, showing the great extension of the glaciers. This map embodies the results of the labors of a great many eminent scholars. See also Croll's "Climate and Time;" also Wallace's "Island Life," pp. 102-202.

We are not aware that the statements as set forth above are seriously questioned by any geologist of note. Some consider it quite possible that the bowlder clays of Southern England and Central Germany were deposited during a period of submergence from melting icebergs. (Dawkins's "Early Man in Britain," p.

116.) But even this demands vast glaciers to the north of this supposed submergence to produce the icebergs. The weight of authority, however, is in favor of the glaciers. (Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 175.) (27) Haywood's Heer's "Primeval World of Switzerland," p. 200.

(28) "Prehistoric Europe," p. 261. It is no longer a question that there was at least one mild period separating two periods of cold in Europe. See Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," p. 316; Dawkins's "Early Man in Britain," pp. 115-120; Lyell's "Antiquity of Man," pp. 282-285., Dana's "Manual of Geology,"

first edition, p. 561; Haywood's Heer's "Primeval World of Switzerland," Vol. II, p. 203; Wallace's "Island Life," p. 114; Croll's "Climate and Time." Mr. Geikie, in his works, "The Great Ice Age" and "Prehistoric Europe," maintains there were several warm interglacial epochs.

(29) Wright.

(30) Morgan's "Ancient Society," p. 29.

(31) Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," p. 365. Morgan's "Ancient Society," p. 39.

(32) Rau's "Early Man in Europe," p. 14.

(33) "Primitive Industry," p. 485.

(34) Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," 384.

(35) Geikie's "Prehistoric Europe," chap. ix. Most geologists suppose there was a general depression of the region below the sea level, or so as to form inland lakes, and that the loess was thus deposited, as perhaps it is depositing at the present time in the lakes of Switzerland. (Wright.) (36) Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," p. 423.

(37) Evans's "Ancient Stone Implements," p. 621.

(38) _Pop. Science Monthly,_ Oct., 1883.

(39) Dawkins's "Ear. Man in Brit.," p. 163.

(40) Wright's "Studies in Science and Religion," p. 278. See also British a.s.sociation Report, 1882, p. 602.

(41) Lubbock's "Prehistoric Times," p. 356.

(42) Abbott's "Primitive Industry."

(43) Dawkins's "Early Man in Britain," p. 172.

(44) Wright.

(45) Quatref.a.ges's "Human Species," p. 307.

(46) "Human Species," p. 305.

(47) Ibid., p. 307.

(48) Quatref.a.ge's "Human Species," p. 306.

(49) "Early Man in Britain," p. 173.

(50) Ibid., p. 233.

(51) We do not give any estimate in years as to this antiquity in this chapter.

(52) We must remember that this age is also variously called the Quaternary, Pleistocene, and Post Tertiary. We do not now refer to the evidence of man's existence in the Miocene and Pliocene, treated of in the preceding chapter.

(53) Mr. Dawkins finds that fifty-five out of seventy-seven species are yet living. "Early Man in Britain," p, 109.

(54) "Early Man in Britain," p. 110.

(55) Those who reject the proofs of the existence of man in Pliocene times because the evolution of life had not then reached a stage where we could hope to find man, are here confronted with a difficulty. If Mr. Dawkins be right (as stated above) then the various animals in question must have been living in Asia during the preceding Pliocene Age. There is no reason to suppose man was not a.s.sociated with them, since he belongs to the same stage of evolution (Le Conte's "Elements of Geology," p. 568), and though, owing to climatic and geographical causes, the animals themselves might have been confined to Asia, there is surely no good reason why man may not, in small bands, and at various times, have wandered into Europe.

(56) "Prehistoric Europe," "The Great Ice Age."

(57) Dawkins's "Early Man in Britain," p. 170.

(58) "Prehistoric Europe," p. 268.

(59) Ibid., 360.

(60) British a.s.soc. Rep., 1878.

(61) "Early Man in Britain," pp. 137, 141, and 169, with note.

(62) British a.s.soc. Rep., 1879.

(63) Prehistoric Europe, p. 263.

(64) British a.s.soc. Rep., 1882.

(65) Preface to Kains-Jackson's "Our Ancient Monuments."

(66) "First Annual Report, Bureau of Ethnology," p. 73.

Chapter IV

CAVE-MEN.<1>

Other sources of Information--History of Cave Exploration--The formation of Caves--Exploration in Kent's Cavern--Evidence of two different races--The higher culture of the later race--Evidence of prolonged time--Exploration of Robin Hood Cave--Explorations in Valley of the River Meuse--M. Dupont's conclusions--Explorations in the Valley of the Dordogne--The Station at Schussenreid--Cavemen not found south of the Alps--Habitations of the Cave-men--Cave-men were Hunters--Methods of Cooking--Dest.i.tute of the Potter's art--Their Weapons--Clothing--Their skill in Drawing--Evidence of a Government--Of Religious belief--Race of the Cave-men--Distinct from the men of the Drift--Probable Connection with the Eskimos.

We have been delving, among the sands of ancient river bottoms for a proof of man's existence in far remote times. Slight and unsatisfactory as they may be to some, they are the materials with which we reconstruct a wondrous story of life and times removed from us by many a cycle of years.

Men have frequently resorted to the caverns of the earth for protection.

In places we find caves that served this purpose during the Paleolithic Age. The men of the Drift, however, do not appear to have used them, save as temporary places of refuge, perhaps as a protection from bands of savage enemies, or from unusually inclement weather. But yet most surprising results have attended the exploration of caves in England, France, and Belgium. We find in those gloomy places that the men of the Drift were not the only tribes of men inhabiting Europe during the Glacial Age. In fact, living at later date than the Drift tribes, but still belonging to the Paleolithic Age, were tribes of people who appear to have utilized caverns and grottoes as places of permanent resort, and, judging from their remains, they had made considerable advance in the arts of living as compared with the tribes of the Drift.

But before pointing out the grounds upon which these conclusions rest, it may be well to give a slight review of the history of cave research.

The dread and awe which kept people away from caves during the Middle Ages preserved their contents for later discoverers. In the seventeenth century, some adventurous spirits began to search in them for what they called Unicorn horns, which were deemed a most efficacious remedy for various diseases. This search served the good purpose of bringing to light various fossil bones of animals, and calling the attention of scientific men to the same.

The cave of Gailenreuth, in Bavaria, was explored by Dr. Goldfuss in 1810. He came to the conclusion that the bones of bears and other extinct animals were proofs of the former presence of the animals themselves. Dr. Buckland, a celebrated English writer, visited the cave in 1816, and became much interested in the work; so much so that when Kirkdale Cavern, in England, was discovered in 1821, he at once repaired to the spot and made a careful exploration. The results satisfied him that hyenas and other extinct animals had once lived in England. He followed up his explorations in a number of cases, and published a work on this subject in 1822, which marks the commencement of a new era in cave research.

In 1825 Kent's Cavern, near Torquay, was discovered, and Rev. J. McEnry made partial explorations in it. He discovered flint implements and perceived they might be a proof of the presence of man with these extinct animals. Dr. Buckland had not found these relics, or else had pa.s.sed them by as of no importance, for he refused to entertain the theory that man and the extinct animals had been contemporaneous.

Explorations made in France in 1827-8 had furnished such strong evidence on this point that it was deemed established by some scholars, but being opposed to the prevailing belief, nothing came of it.

Ill.u.s.tration of Gailenreuth.---------

In 1829 Schmerling commenced his investigations in the caves of the valley of the Meuse. For years he continued his work under many difficulties. Sir Charles Lyell tells us he was let down day after day to the opening of the Engis Cave by a rope tied to a tree. Arriving there he crawled on all fours through a narrow pa.s.sage way to the enlarged chamber, where, standing in mud and water, he superintended the investigations. He examined over forty of those caves, and published his results in 1833. He clearly showed that man must have been living along with various animals now extinct in Belgium. But, as before remarked, it was deemed sufficient answer to this careful explorer to point out that his results were opposed to the accepted chronology, and so they were pa.s.sed by. When the time at last came, and their true worth was recognized, Schmerling himself had pa.s.sed away.

We have already seen what great results followed the exploration of DePerthes in the river gravels. When it had been clearly established that man and extinct animals hid coexisted in Europe, the results of cave explorations were eagerly recalled, and governments vied with royal societies and private individuals in continuing the researches. The results are that a rich store of facts has been gathered from those gloomy resorts, ill.u.s.trative of the later stages of Paleolithic art.

A word as to the formation of caves, grottoes, caverns, and rock shelters. These vary greatly in size, some being so small as to furnish protection to but few individuals; others, especially caves, so large that whole tribes might have found a place of resort within their chambers. They are found in all limestone countries. The formation of caves is now recognized as due to natural causes acting slowly through many years. Limestone rock is very hard and durable, but chemistry teaches us that water charged with carbonic acid gas will readily dissolve it. Rain-water falling from the clouds is sure to come in contact with ma.s.ses of decaying vegetable matter, which we know is constantly giving off quant.i.ties of this gas. Laden with this the water sinks into the ground, and, if it comes in contact with limestone, readily washes some of it away in solution. But beds of limestone rock are noted for containing great fissures through which subterranean waters penetrate far into the ground. We can readily see how this percolating water would dissolve and wear away the surface of the rocks along such a fissure, and in process of time we would have the phenomenon of a stream of water flowing under ground.

Owing to a great many causes--such, for instance, as the meeting of another fissure--we would expect that portions of this underground way would become enlarged to s.p.a.cious halls. In some such a way as this it is now understood that all caves have originated.

Owing to many natural causes the river may, after a while, cease to flow, leaving enlarged portions of its channel behind as a succession of chambers in a cave. But water would still come trickling in from the tops and sides, and be continuously dripping to the floor, where it speedily evaporates. When such is the case it leaves behind it the limestone it held in solution. So, in process of time, if the deposition is undisturbed, there will be formed over the floor of the cave a more or less continuous layer of limestone matter known as stalagmite. The same formations on the top and sides of the cave are called stalact.i.tes.

In places where the drip is continuous the stalact.i.te gradually a.s.sumes the shape of an immense icicle; while the stalagmite on the floor of the cave, underneath the drip, rises in a columnar ma.s.s to meet the descending stalact.i.te. A union of these is not uncommon, and, we have pillars and columns presenting the strange, fantastic appearance on which tourists delight to dwell in their notes of travel.

While these acc.u.mulations are in all cases very slow, still we can not measure the time since it commenced by the rate of present growth, because this rate varies greatly at different times and places even in the same cave. And we must also remark that this complete series of changes only occur in a few localities, the majority of caves being insignificant in size.<2>

From what has been said as to the formation of caves, we would expect them to occur in river valleys, and this is the case, though in some instances there have been such immense changes in the surface level of the country that we can now find no trace of rivers near them. This is exactly similar to some gravel deposits, which, as we have seen, are occasionally found where is now no running water. The most noted caverns, however, are found high up on the banks of existing rivers. We can not doubt that the rivers were the cause of the caves. But having excavated their beds below the level of the then existing caves, they ceased to flow in them, and left them to be occupied by savage animals and the scarcely less savage men. But at times, swollen by floods, the river would again a.s.sert its supremacy and roll its waters through its old channels.

These floods would not only tear up and rearrange whatever _debris_ had already acc.u.mulated, but would introduce quant.i.ties of sediment and animal remains. In some such a manner as is here pointed out (though exactly how geologists are not agreed) caves were invaded, after being long occupied by men or animals, by floods of water. In many cases the evidence would seem to indicate that after such a visitation by water the cave and its water-rolled and water-arranged contents were left to silence, visited by neither man nor beast. In such instances stalagmitic coverings would gradually form over the confused _debris,_ and in some places acquire a thickness of several feet. In some instances several such floors are found one above the other, pointing to a prolonged period of usage, and then a quiet stage, in which the drip of falling water alone broke the silence, and nature sealed up another chapter of cave biography beneath the layer of stalagmite.