Page:Excavations at the Kesslerloch.djvu/20

Rh dences of prehistoric times lay scattered one from another in a bed of large and small stones crumbled down from the oolitic limestone above. In front this bed was 15 inches thick, in the middle of the cave about 11 inches, and in the back part only about 4 inches thick. This decided diminution in the thickness of the relic-bed may be accounted for partly because the front portion of the rock would weather to a greater extent and more rapidly, and partly because the heaps of bones diminish towards the back portion; and this again may be accounted for by supposing that the early inhabitants of the cave had their work-room in front, and passed most of their time there, while the hinder portion may have been chosen for their sleeping apartment. The relic-bed, the black colour of which arises from the slow decomposition of animal substances, extends over the whole of the cave, even quite under the pillar before mentioned, so that we cannot imagine that there was any particular place where the rubbish was thrown. What could not be eaten was cast aside, without taking any account of the unpleasant effluvium which would arise from the decay of the meat, which in part still adhered to the bones.

The bones in this bed, which were of a yellowish white colour, were easily preserved, but some few of the bones were so rotten that they crumbled to pieces in the hand. Many of the bones were either partially or entirely infiltrated with iron and manganese forming dendrites. In several places of the relic-bed there were hearths of different sizes, round which in general there were several slabs, which probably were used as seats for those who were sitting round the fire.

On the north side of the cave there were three rather large slabs of what is called 'oolitic marble,' imbedded in fine rich loam. These may probably have been used as raised sleeping places or couches. Who had the distinction of occupying them, whether all the members of the clan, or merely the chief, we must leave undecided. At all events, I cannot agree with the view that these slabs were used as hearths or places of offering, for neither the slabs nor the loam show any trace of the action of fire. Neither can these slabs have been used as tables for working the loam upon, for not a single fragment of pottery was found in the whole of the relic-bed. It is quite