5 i6 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



such as commonly occurs in the adjacent chalk, has been cleverly 

 chipped into a blade-like end, while the part left unworked 

 furnishes an excellent haft. The black flint exposed at the 

 worked surface is in striking contrast to the opaque, dead 

 white crust which remains on the haft, and presents an astonish- 

 ingly fresh appearance without patination. In some cases a 

 natural swelling of the nodule occurs just below the blade, and 

 has been fancifully compared to a guard. 



There are some forms which anticipate the boucher ; they 

 may be likened to a dagger with a very broad blade, or to an 

 almond-shaped nodule trimmed to an edge on each side of one 

 extremity. 



Coarse examples of scrapers (grattoirs) and chisels [racloirs) 

 are not uncommon, and recall certain " eolithic " forms. M. Rutot 

 makes a good point in calling attention to the association of 

 these with the more finished implements, as an argument in 

 favour of the artefact character of the earlier eoliths. There is 

 apparently a transition from preceding stages of culture 

 characterised by eoliths only, into the Strepyian with eoliths 

 and daggers ; and if in still later deposits skilfully made weapons 

 alone were found, to the exclusion of eoliths, the fact would be 

 significant. But this is not the case ; the eolith, whether made 

 by nature or by man, persists to the end. I have seen it myself 

 in ancient settlements of the Bushmen, and the only reason I 

 had for supposing it to have been used by man was the fact 

 of its association with other signs of Bushmen influence. 



The fauna of the Strepyian is very imperfectly known. 



The Chellean Stage 



The distinctive Chellean implement is the boucher. It is 

 usually of large size, not unlike in size and form two hands 

 apposed palm to palm, but it may attain a length of ten inches, 

 or it may not exceed two or three inches. Most commonly it is 

 somewhat almond-shaped, sometimes it is more triangular, and 

 rarely oblong with rounded ends. Not uncommonly it retains a 

 part of the surface of the original nodule or pebble from which it 

 has been shaped. 



It has been dressed by coarse flaking on both sides, and the 

 flaking of opposite sides meets along the edge in a wavy line, so 

 that this edge, which was used for cutting or scraping, is charac- 

 terised by its irregularity. 



