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4. Man contemporaneous with Extinct Animals in South Africa. 



By E. BROOM, M.D., D.Sc. 



FOR a good many years there has been some evidence that man 

 was contemporaneous with extinct animals in South Africa, Human 

 implements have been found among the gravels at the Vaal River 

 diamond diggings, and from the gravels have also been found teeth 

 of Equus capensis and a species of Mastodon. But it has been quite 

 impossible to say that man was contemporaneous from the uncer- 

 tainty of the gravel deposits being of the same age. 



At Bloembosch, near Darling, Cape Province, the sand-hills on 

 shifting have revealed remains of Bubalus baini and Equus capensis 

 in association with human implements. But though the evidence 

 of contemporaneity was quite sufficient for me, it was not as 

 convincing as could be desired. 



At Haagenstad saltpan, about 30 miles north of Bloemfontein, 

 a discovery has just been made which removes all possibility of 

 doubt of a human race having inhabited South Africa at a time 

 when there lived many large mammals now quite extinct. 



Near the saltpan there is a hot spring which has issued from a 

 large sand-hill. Baths have been erected to utilise the hot water, 

 and recently excavations have been made into the hill to get nearer 

 to the source of the spring. In cutting into the hill a thick deposit 

 of beautiful peat was met with. The peat has evidently been formed 

 by the roots of bushes and trees, and as the deposit is 8 or 10 feet in 

 thickness, it must represent the growth of many years. Below the 

 purer peat are another 8 or 10 feet of peaty sand, and underneath 

 this a layer of broken bones, burnt wood, and human implements. 



The Bloemfontein Museum authorities heard of the find, and Mr. 

 Leviseur authorised Professor Potts and myself to visit the spot. 

 That the more important finds have been preserved we owe to Mrs. 

 Martha Johanna Venter, the very intelligent wife of the farmer who 

 lives at the spot. She has made a large collection of the bones and 

 other remains, and though unfortunately she has allowed many of 

 the human implements to pass into the hands of unscientific curiosity 



