THE BAOUSSE-ROUSSE EXPLORATIONS: STUDY OF A 

 NEW HUMAN TYPE, BY M. VERNEAU.« 



By Albert Cf audrt, 



Member of the Institute of France. 



The Prince of Monaco deli*^hts not only in exploring- the depths of 

 the oceans of to-day, he also loves to explore the depths of the past. 

 He has undertaken to excavate the Baousse-Rousse on so vast a scale 

 that the place is destined to throw much lig-ht on the history of primi- 

 tive man. 



The name Baousse-Rousse (Red Rock) is well known to scientists since 

 the discoveries of M. Emile Riviere. A largo quantity of material 

 has been taken from its various grottoes; in one of them was found 

 the celebrated skeleton of the Jardin des Plantes, known as the Man of 

 Mentone. The Prince of Monaco enlisted as his assistants several 

 French scientists: The Abbe do Villeneuve methodically directs the 

 excavations, removing each stratum separatel}^ so as to clearly estab- 

 lish the succession of the phases of prehistoric times; M. Marcelin 

 Boule, so well versed in quaternary paleontology, assumes the exam- 

 ination of the various fossil animals; M. Emile Cartailhac, the eminent 

 corresponding' mem])er of the Institute, works at unearthing the human 

 skeletons which M. Verneau, the assistant of M. Hamy at the Museum, 

 is studying w^ith his usual skill. It would l)e impossible to bring 

 together scientists more capable of successfully carrying out the great 

 enterprise of the Prince of Monaco. 



One of the grottoes in particular has furnished to the Abbe de Ville- 

 neuve results of considerable importance. This is the Grotto des 

 Enfants, so called because, in 18Ti,M. Emile Riviere discovered there 

 two skeletons of children which to-day are in the collection of the 

 Catholic Institute directed by M. de Lapparent. In the accompany- 

 ing figure (see p. 452) there is shown a section of the various do- 

 posits and levels of domestic occupation down to the rocky floor of 

 the grotto. In the flrst seven meters the Ahbc de Villeneuve found 

 abundant remains of animals, human utensils, and ev(Mi two human 

 skeletons. Thes(^, specimens added nothing particularly new to what 



"Translated hy permission of tlie autlior from I^a Nature, Pans, ISio. i51 1, May JO, 

 1902. 



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