Tlie Stone Acjes of South Africa. 3 



authors of these houchers of paluiohthic type known as Chellean, 

 no other cultural trace remains, or is supposed to remain, in 

 places outside Soutli Africa, but this may be due to the fact that 

 relics of their domestic utensils have disappeared, or at least have 

 not been found in sitil together with the " houchers." Neither are 

 the traces of the Mousterian stage of culture as clear as one could 

 desire. In South Africa, however, the doubt is no longer permis- 

 sible, as the evidence I adduce will show. 



TJic Second Tiipe. — The second type of stone implements is in 

 some respects more primitive ; occasionally it is of a superior finish, 

 but still primitive. It has lasted until quite lately — a few years 

 back, as a matter of fact; it has also probably replaced the former 

 lithic industry. It may be termed South African Neolithic. 



It includes household utensils, mortars, querns, nmllers, un- 

 doubtedly polished by usage and not intentionally ; we have the 

 " !kwe," or perforated disk or orb; we have also pottei'y of a type 

 unknown elsewhere, beads and ornaments of stone and clay, of 

 shells and ostrich egg-shells, bone tools, &c., and also rock paintings 

 and, possibly, rock gravings. It is, however, doubtful if the latter 

 should not be ascribed to the Palaeolithic. 



These two types are not often found together, yet they are occa- 

 sionally met with in close proximity, owing probably to orographical 

 conditions, such as the neighbourhood of streams or rivers that have 

 persisted in their continuance ; '•'" subsequent occupation of some 

 points of vantage has led also to these artefacts, made at periods 

 widely separated, coming together ultimately. 



The Third Type. — Lastly, we have recorded a few instances of 

 implements the technique of which is that of the true Neolithic 

 European period : small arrovz-heads trimmed on either side and 

 with a carefully worked peduncle, or " tang," for hafting, and a stone 

 axe with ground edge, all made of local rocks. 



But before adducing my reasons for believing that this multiplicity 

 of form is ascribable to a plurality of races, some extremely ancient, 

 others less so, and others again well-nigh contemporaneous, I 

 must warn the student that it should not be taken for granted 

 that the evolution or transformation of an industry is always on the 

 lines of progress. Evolution often stops, sometimes to start again 

 on its onward career, someti;ues — and oftener than not — to retro- 

 grade, in tlie sense that the first line with which we connect it 

 is gradually abandoned for a less complex but not necessarily 



• It is a well -accepted fact that primitive people always settled near running,' 

 waters in the vallevs. 



