Page:Palæolithic Man and Terramara Settlements in Europe.djvu/100

56 them as identical with those in the collection of M. Boucher de Perthes. Another discovery is thus described by Sir John Evans:—

"The Thames Valley may, however, lay claim to the first recorded discovery of any flint implement in the Quaternary gravels, whether in this or any other country. An implement is preserved in the British Museum to which my attention was first directed by Mr A. W. Franks, and which is thus described in the Sloane Catalogue:—'No. 246. A British weapon found, with elephant's tooth, opposite to black Mary's, near Grayes Inn Lane (Conyers). It is a large black flint shaped into the figure of a spear's point. K.' (Plate I.). This K. signifies that it formed a portion of Kemp's collection. It appears to have been found at the close of the seventeenth century, and a rude engraving of it illustrates a letter on the antiquities of London, by Mr Bagford, dated in 1715, and printed in Hearne's edition of Leland's Collectanæ, vol. i., p. 63. From his account it would seem to have been found, with a skeleton of an elephant, in the presence of Mr Conyers." (Ancient Stone Implements, p. 521.)

Nor did analogous discoveries in France fare better. In 1847 M. Boucher de Perthes published a book giving an account of rude flint implements, associated with bones of the mammoth and other extinct animals, which were dug out of the ancient gravel-beds of the Somme; but it remained for upwards of twelve years absolutely ignored. It was not till Dr Hugh Falconer, in the autumn of 1858, visited M. de Perthes' collection that the French discovery received the attention due to its archæological importance. Dr Falconer, having satisfied himself of the antiquity of the gravels of the Somme Valley and of the genuineness of many of the implements found in them, communicated his opinion to some of his English confrères. This speedily brought Dr Joseph Prestwich and Sir John Evans on the scene, who, after careful examination of all the circumstances, also recognised the real significance of Boucher de Perthes' discovery. Many French archæologists at once adopted the new view; and at last M. de Perthes had the satisfaction of knowing that his despised flints were not only genuine human implements, but the most