Page:Palæolithic Man and Terramara Settlements in Europe.djvu/205

Rh portion of a second mandible showed the canine and first premolars to be larger than their homologues in modern jaws- characters which recall the form of the corresponding teeth of the anthropoids. The age of the person who owned this large jaw was estimated to be about twenty-five years. The third fragment, which came from an upper jaw, still retained three large molars in their sockets, and was judged to have belonged to a young person of about sixteen years of age. The discovery of these mutilated fragments of human jaws belonging to three young people among the food-refuse and débris around the hearths suggests that the Palæolithic inhabitants of the station of Petit-Puymoyen were cannibals. M. Favraud describes the industrial remains found on this station (Rev. de l'École d'Anth., 1908, pp. 46-72) with ample illustrations of the flint and bone objects. The former are well finished, and the latter supply further evidence that bone and horn were utilised as early as the Moustérien epoch.

The Skull of Placard.

The cave of Placard (Charente) is situated on the left bank of the Tardoire, opposite Rochebertier. It presents a clear opening, some 3 metres in diameter, and extends into the interior about 35 metres. The archæological and disintegrated materials accumulated in the cave to a depth of 9 or 10 metres. The former consisted of eight beds, intercalated between as many sterile deposits, composed of fallen rocks, mud, stalagmite, etc. The highest stratum contained Neolithic relics. The next four archæological strata were Magdalénien débris containing hearths and characteristic industrial remains, while the lower three belonged to the Solutréen, Aurignacien, and Moustérien epochs.

Excavations have been made by various parties at different times, notably by M. de Maret (1877-1888). The result of the excavations was to bring to light a variety and wealth of relics of Palæolithic times unequalled by any other station. A general description of its industrial remains is given by A. de Mortillet in a paper to the Association Française pour l'Avancement des Sciences. (Comptes rendus, pp. 631-642 ; see also Musée Préhistorique, pi. xxix.)