212 Annals of the South African Museum. 



in the Coldstream cave (see Figs. 114 on Plate XIII.). And the 

 statement of Mr. G. Eobertson's that "pounders," &c., have also 

 been found in the limestone is the more strengthened by the fact 

 that in one of the few caves or rock-shelters of the littoral which have 

 remained undisturbed, palaeolithic and neolithic types have now been 

 proved to have been coeval. 



We have no means of ascertaining the duration of time neces- 

 sitated by the rise of the end of a continent to a height of 15 feet, 

 and the consequent regression of shore to an extent of two miles, if 

 not more. 



But on lithic evidence it must now be taken as granted that the 

 industry of the Strand Looper is of very ancient origin. 



Did it evolve with them, was it imitated by them, was it a case of 

 survival of methods with the inhumed inhabitants of the Coldstream 

 rock-shelter ? It is impossible to pronounce on these questions at 

 present. 



But I am inclined to believe, from the examination of all the finds 

 from there, that the lithic industry was on the wane ; bone tools are 

 in the ascendant ; stone is used only for such purposes where bone 

 could not be employed as a substitute. 



Yet, to draw the conclusion that all the implements of palaeolithic 

 type are not more ancient than those of the Coldstream cave, or those 

 found in the littoral, would be erroneous. 



The same antiquity can be claimed for the palaeoliths of Stellen- 

 bosch, Griqualand, and Ehodesia as is claimed for those from the 

 Pyrennees, from Madrid, from Madras. A practised eye sees what 

 is often undescribable. It is possible that the lithological tenets 

 obtaining now in Europe may have to be greatly rejuvenated, 

 involving thereby a lesser antiquity for our own, markedly ancient, 

 bouchers ; but there will still remain that inexplicable difference 

 between what is indeed ancient and the comparatively modern. 



But in South Africa the two methods, palaeolithic and neolithic, 

 have survived in a coeval manner to a period of comparatively recent, 

 or even very recent, date. 



