Page:Palæolithic Man and Terramara Settlements in Europe.djvu/218

 No. 3. Grotte de Florestan.— So named after Prince Florestan, who made some excavations here in 1845.

No. 4. Grotte du Cavillon.— Here M. Rivière found the famous human skeleton known as l'Homme de Menton, now exhibited in the Natural History Museum .in Paris.

No. 5. La Barma Grande.— This cave, now partly destroyed, contained several human skeletons and a large number of manufactured objects.

No. 6. La Grotte du Baousso da Torre.— Was entirely emptied by Rivière, and is now completely destroyed by quarrying.

No. 7. La Grotte du Prince.— So named as being the property of Prince Albert I. of Monaco.

Nos. 8 and 9. These stations were simply shelters without importance.

Although the Grimaldi caves were for a long time objects of curiosity and had been subjected to some superficial excavations, the researches undertaken by M. Rivière (1870-5) were the first which yielded results of scientific value. He published an account of his discoveries and conclusions in a large volume, entitled 'De l'Antiquité de l'Homme dans les Alpes-Maritimes (Paris, 1878-88). The chronological uncertainties raised by M. Rivière's opinions led to the idea that the excavations had not been so carefully and scientifically conducted as could be desired. In these circumstances Prince Albert I. of Monaco ordered further systematic excavations to be undertaken, with the view of solving the date of the interments found in the caves, which M. Rivière regarded as Palæolithic.

The proposed excavations were begun in 1895, under the care of M. le Chanoine de Villeneuve, assisted by M. Lorenzi. They commenced operations in the Grotte du Prince, and continued the work for some time, with most interesting results from the stratigraphical and palæontological points of view ; but as there were no skeletons met with, the operations were transferred, first to the Grotte des Enfants, and afterwards to the Grotte du Cavillon (No. 4), which still contained some undisturbed deposits both of which yielded fresh discoveries of the highest importance. At the thirteenth meeting of the