REVIEWS 68i 



A Textbook of European Archaeology. By R. A. S. Macalister, Litt.D., 

 F.S.A. [Pp. XV + 6io, with 184 illustrations.] (Cambridge : At the 

 University Press. Price 50s. net.) 



This book is the first volume of a series which the author proposes to publish. 

 The present work is composed of eleven chapters, and deals with what is known 

 of prehistoric man from the period when Professor Macalister considers it 

 proper for him to appear on this planet — to the cultural phase j ust preceding the 

 Neolithic civilisations — which mark the close of the Stone Age. Its compila- 

 tion must have necessitated much reading and a great deal of tedious labour, 

 but the book is obviously the work of one who has not had much actual experi- 

 ence of finding and examining flint implements, and, in consequence, the 

 statements it contains are, in some cases, unreliable. In the short space at my 

 disposal I would wish to comment upon the author's opinions of those earliest 

 efiorts of man to fashion flints, which are preserved for us in what are known 

 as eoliths. It would seem that Professor Macalister tries to pour scorn upon 

 these artefacts, and upon those who have collected and examined them. In 

 scientific matters it is not a usual practice to " make fun," in this way, of 

 one's opponents. Not only is it, in itself, regrettable, but it generally leads to 

 reprisals on the part of others who, in like manner, fail to realise the seriousness 

 of the problem as to when man first appeared on this planet. I would first 

 deal with the Kentian Eoliths. The illustrations of these specimens are quite 

 inadequate, and are produced from very indifferent drawings. As Professor 

 Macalister ought to know, these implements have been described and excel- 

 lently figured by several eminent scientific people, and to publish drawings of 

 this order would not seem to be treating his readers fairly. The illustration of a 

 rostro-carinate specimen is, however, in every way satisfactory. This particular 

 implement is figured in Evans' Ancient Stone Implements (Fig. 444), and was 

 accepted as of human origin by Sir John Evans, an investigator who Professor 

 Macalister regards, quite rightly, as a reliable authority in such matters. No 

 illustrations appear of the other types of Sub-Crag (Pliocene) implements, 

 some of which have now been accepted by Professor Sollas in England, and 

 Professor Breuil and Dr. Capitan in France. And again, in this case, Profes- 

 sor Macalister regards, and rightly so, these three archaeologists as reliable 

 guides. I regret to notice that in regard to the Sub-Crag implements, the 

 ridiculous objection to their acceptance is put forward that, as these specimens 

 are now found beneath a marine deposit, their makers " must have been at 

 least amphibious, if not actually mermen." If the author had been aware of 

 the extensive terrestrial fauna and flora found in association with these fash- 

 ioned flints he would not, I think, have made himself responsible for a state- 

 ment of this kind. In reference to certain experiments in the natural fracture 

 of flint, it is stated that the fractures produced in these experiments difier 

 from those resulting from the action of bona fide natural forces. But no 

 satisfactory reason is given for this opinion. It is incorrect to state that to 

 produce delicate retouching upon the edge of a flint, it is necessary to use 

 a "number of special tools." I notice that the old argument (that flint 

 implements occur only in districts where flint abounds) used many years ago 

 against the idea of the human origin of the river-drift paleoliths, is now 

 launched against the eoliths. Both this argument and that of the alleged 

 uselessness of eoliths are threadbare. I can conceive of many more uses for 

 sharp, edge-trimmed eoliths and for rostro-carinates than I can, for instance, 

 for a small, twisted St. Acheul ovate. But all these curious arguments and 

 objections, apparently so dear to the heart of Professor Macalister, are merely 

 academic, and are, it would seem, the outcome of a lack of practical ex- 

 perience in the subject about which he writes. It seems to me incredible 

 that Professor Macalister really regards the well-finished implements, illus- 

 trated on p. 226, as representing the first efforts of man in fashioning flint. 

 And it is still more incredible that these specimens should be described as 



