286 GENERAL VIEWS ON ARCHAEOLOGY. 



three principal eras, which they have called the Stone-age, the Bronze- 

 age, and the Iron-age. 1 



This great conquest in the realm of science is due chiefly to the 

 lahors of Mr. Thouisen, director of the Ethnological and Archasologi- 

 cal Museums at Copenhagen. 2 and to those of Mr. Nilsson, professor 

 at the flourishing University of Lund, in. Sweden. 3 These illustrious 

 veterans of the school of northern antiquarians have ascertained that 

 Europe, at present so civilized, was at first inhabited by tribes to whom 

 the use of metal was totally unknown, and whose industry and domes- 

 tic habits must have borne a considerable analogy to what we now see 

 practiced among certain savages. Bone, horn, and chiefly flint, were 

 then used, instead of metal, for manufacturing cutting-instruments 

 and arms. This was the Stone-age, which might also be called the 

 first great phase of civilization. 



The earliest settlers in Europe apparently brought with them the 

 art of producing fire. By striking iron-pyrites (sulphuret of iron) 

 against quartz, fire can be easily obtained. But this method can only 

 have been occasionally used, and seems to have been confined to some 

 native tribes in Terra del Fuego. 4 The usual mode has been evidently 

 that of rubbing two sticks together; but, on further reflection, it is 

 easy to perceive that this was a most difficult discovery, and must at 

 all events have been preceded by a knowledge of the use of fire as 

 derived from the effects of lightning or from volcanic action. 



The Stone-age was, therefore, probably preceded by a period perhaps 

 of some length, during which man was unacquainted with the art of 

 producing fire. This, according to Mr. Flourens, indicates that the 

 cradle of mankind was situated in a warm climate. 5 



The art of producing fire has been perhaps the greatest achievement 

 of human intelligence. The use of fire lies at the root of almost ever} r 

 species of industry ; it enables the savage to fell trees, as it allows 

 civilized nations to work metals. The importance is so great, that, 

 deprived of it, man would perhaps scarcely have risen above the con- 

 dition of the brute. The ancients already were sensible of this. 

 Witness the fable of "Prometheus." As to their sacred perpetual 

 fire, its origin seems to lie in the difficulty of procuring it, thereby 

 rendering its preservation essential. 



In Europe the Stone-age came to an end by the introduction of 

 bronze. This metal is an alloy of about nine parts of copper and one 



1 The history of Danish Archaeology has been sketched by T. Hindenburg. (See "Dansk 

 Maanedsskrift," I. 1859.) 



2 " Ledetraad til nordisk Oldkyndiajhed." Copenhagen, 1836. Published in English by 

 Lord Ellesmere under the title of "A Guide to Northern Antiquities." London, 1848. 



5 Nilsson. "Scandinaviska nordens urinvonare." Lund, 1838 — 1843. 



* Weddell, "A Voyage towards the South Pole in 1822, 1824." London, 1827. P. 167. 



5 Flouren's " De la Longevite Humaine." Paris, 1855. P. 127. Man, from the con- 

 struction of his teeth, his stomach, and his intestines, is primitively frugivorous, like the 

 monkey. But the frugivorous diet is the most unfavorable, because it constrains its follow- 

 ers perpetually to abide in those countries which produce fruit at all seasons, consequently 

 in warm climates. But, once the art of cooking introduced, and applied both to animal and 

 vegetable productions, man could extend and vary the nature of his diet. Man has, conse- 

 quently, two diets: the first is primitive, natural, and instinctive, and by it he is frugivorous 

 the second is artificial, being due entirely to his intelligence, and by this he is omnivorous. 



