Page:Palæolithic Man and Terramara Settlements in Europe.djvu/261

Rh and progress of the arts, industries, and artistic attainments of these remarkable races. But such overlapping is more apparent than real, as the notices in Chapter II. are mostly restricted to the details of the stations from which the terms Chelléen, Acheuléen, Aurignacien, Solutréen, and Magdalénien have been derived. These names are merely conventional landmarks adopted, more as a matter of convenience, for describing the progressive development of humanity. In what respects the Aurignacien man differed from the Solutreen, or the Magdalénien, it is difficult to say. From the Moustérien up to the Magdalénien there has been a steady evolution in arts, industries, and domestic economy, all leading to higher ideals and greater social comfort. It is no doubt desirable to define, with as much precision as possible, the successive increments in the social culture of these ancient people ; but to dwell on such details, as whether this or that particular form of flint implement is characteristic of this or that epoch, is beyond my present limits. That is the work of experts, which can only be exhaustively dealt with in special monographs. Not only is this field of research subject to alterations from day to day by fresh discoveries,, but many of the disputed objects take an equally important place among the relics of different epochs. When did Palaeolithic man begin to utilise bone and horn as suitable materials for the manufacture of implements, or weapons, or ornaments ? When did he first resort to the art of engraving on stone, bone, horn, and the walls of his favourite caverns ? Was Palaeolithic man a religious being ? These are but specimens of the shifting sands which do duty for the precise progress of events' for different and even contradictory answers have been given to all these queries. Classifications are made to-day only to be undone on the morrow.

My special duty, on the present occasion, is to decipher from the abundant materials at my disposal the progressive improvements, manner of living, and general culture of these early people. For this purpose we have to note in passing their accumulated inventions, which extend over a great length of time, covering, at least, one interglacial warm period and a subsequent glacial advance of a prolonged and probably intermittent character. During these long ages our sapient ancestors