Page:Palæolithic Man and Terramara Settlements in Europe.djvu/224

164 that of a youth, was turned towards that of the female, having the right hand stretched to her shoulder, and near it a third flint knife is said to have been discovered. Among the ornaments associated with this group were a number of "curious objects like double eggs or acorns connected by a common stem" (Fig. 49). Sir Arthur Evans discussed their comparative bearing with his usual critical and instructive acumen in an article entitled,"On the Prehistoric Interments of the Balzi

{{fs85|{{Font-size-x/s}} FIG. 49. Curious Ornaments found in one of the sepulchral caves of Mentone({{sup|1}}/{{sub|1}}}. (After Sir A. Evans.) }|undefined}

Rossi Caves, near Mentone, and their relation to the Neolithic Cave-Burials of the Finalese." (Journal of the Anth. Inst., 1893, v l-xxii., p. 287.)

M. Verneau also gives a minute description of the respective ornaments worn by these personages. On the head of the old man was a coiffure composed of the perforated canine teeth of deer ornamented with cross lines, fish vertebræ pierced along their axis, and shells of Nassa neritea.

On the level of the thorax was a necklet composed of similar materials, together with the ivory pendants which attracted Evans' attention. According to Verneau (C.A.P., 1906, vol. i., p. 74), the other two subjects were adorned with similar ornaments, but not so elaborately worked. He also directs attention to the flint knives, which, so far, had not been found in any of the other caves.

In 1894 another male skeleton was found. It lay on the left side in line with the axis of the cave, the legs crossed and the hands bent upwards. There was no evidence of the presence of the peroxide of iron in this case, but the usual perforated teeth and shells were in abundance, together with a hemispherical ivory pendant. Above the body were three large flat stones resting on side stones, thought to be for protection. Finally, near the bottom of the cave, M. Abbo gathered the carbonised bones of a human body which had also in life worn ornaments of Nassa neritea. (Ibid., p. 75.) All the skulls