ANTIQUITY OF THE SHELL-MOUNDS. 251 



are found in the shell-mounds. So far as I am aware, however, 

 none of the small triangular axes, which are so characteristic 

 of the shell-mounds, have yet been met with in the tumuli. 

 Nor, on the other hand, has a single specimen resembling 

 those which are characteristic of the Palaeolithic Age yet been 

 found in the shell-mounds. 



Finally, as regards the supposed remains of domestic animals 

 (other than the dog) in Stone Age tumuli, the evidence brought 

 forward by Professor Worsaae seems to me inconclusive, which, 

 however, is of the less consequence, as the point will certainly 

 be determined ere long, now that attention has specially been 

 directed to it. 



On the whole, the evidence appears to show that the Danish 

 shell-mounds represent a definite period in the history of that 

 country, and are probably referable to the early part of the 

 Neolithic Age, when the art of polishing flint implements was 

 known, but before it had reached its greatest development. 



It is, however, as yet, impossible to affix even an approxi- 

 mate date in years to the formation of the Kjokkenmoddings. 

 Their accumulation, indeed, must evidently have occupied a 

 considerable period, and it is of course highly probable that 

 some are much older than others. They must all, however, 

 be of very considerable antiquity. We know that the country 

 has long been covered by beech forests, and yet it appears 

 that during the Bronze Age beeches were absent, or only 

 represented by stragglers, while the whole country was covered 

 with oaks. This change implies a great lapse of time, even if 

 we suppose that but a few generations of oaks succeeded one 

 another. We know also that the oaks had been preceded by 

 pines, and that the country was inhabited even then. 



Again, the immense number of objects belonging to the 

 Bronze Age, which have been already found in Denmark, and 

 the great number of tumuli, appear to justify the Danish 

 archa3ologists in assigning to this period a great lapse of time. 



