228 



HARDWICKE'S S CI E N CE- G O SS IP. 



withstanding the variety of type of the ancient 

 weapons and ornaments, it is wonderful how those 

 of every country resemble each other, plainly 

 proving that the places where stone and flint im- 

 plements ^are still in use, are, to use a geological 

 phrase, merely " outliers " of a once universal con- 

 dition. We proceed to illustrate our remarks by 



specimens, the blocks|of which||have|been kindly 

 lent us by the publishers for the purpose. 



Eig. 160 is one of the earliest, or Paleolithic 

 types of flint weapons, obtained by striking the 

 piece longitudinally off a core. The implements 

 obtained in our valley gravels, in the terraces above 

 the present levels of rivers, are frequently of this 

 shape. From this earliest and rudest of forms we 

 have a gradual transition in the specimens to those 

 of the latest Neolithic period, when their art de- 

 velopment reached its highest finish. Tig. 161 is a 



Fig. l60i PalEcolithic Flint Implenent, from Pressijny. 



fig. l6l. Flint Inipkmcnt of early Neolitliic period. 



specimen from Mildcnhall, in Suifolk, showing 

 general appearance, side view, and transverse sec- 

 tion. In this it is evident tiiat more skill has been 

 bestowed, whilst the circumstances under which it 



Fig. lG2. Ncjlithic Implements. 



was found indicate it tu be of a more recent date 

 than the preceding. Fig. 1G2 is from the same 

 place, and is still more neatly finished. All these 



