2 DIVISION OF PRE-HISTORIC 



thousand years, which were until lately looked on as the sum 

 of the world's existence, are to him but one unit of measure- 

 ment in the long succession of past ages. Our knowledge of 

 geology is, of course, very incomplete ; on some questions we 

 shall no doubt see reason to change our opinion, but on the 

 whole, the conclusions to which it points are as definite as 

 those of zoology, chemistry, or any of the kindred sciences. 

 Nor does there appear to be any reason why those methods 

 of examination which have proved so successful in geology, 

 should not also be used to throw light on the history of man 

 in pre-historic times. Archaeology forms, in fact, the link 

 between geology and history. It is true that in the case of 

 other animals we can, from their bones and teeth, form a 

 definite idea of their habits and mode of life, while in the 

 present state of our knowledge the skeleton of a savage could 

 not always be distinguished from that of a philosopher. But 

 on the other hand, while other animals leave only teeth and 

 bones behind them, the men of past ages are to be studied 

 principally by their works ; houses for the living, tombs for 

 the dead, fortifications for defence, temples for worship, imple- 

 ments for use, and ornaments for decoration. 



From the careful study of the remains which have come 

 down to us, it would appear that Pre-historic Archaeology 

 may be divided into four great epochs. 



I. That of the Drift ; when man shared the possession of 

 Europe with the Mammoth, the Cave bear, the Woolly-haired 

 rhinoceros, and other extinct animals. This we may call the 

 "Palaeolithic" period. 



II. The later or polished Stone Age; a period character- 

 ized by beautiful weapons and instruments made of flint and 

 other kinds of stone ; in which, however, we find no trace of 

 the knowledge of any metal, excepting gold, which seems to 

 have been sometimes used for ornaments. This we may call 

 the " Neolithic" period. 



