ETHNOLOGY. 



THE TROGLODYTES, OR CAVE-DWEILERS, OF THE VALLEY OF THE YEZERE. 



By M. Paul Broca. 



A:i Address delivered before the French Association for the Adcancement of Science. 



[Translated from "La Eevue Scientifique," November 16, 1872, for the Smithsonian Institution.] 



Ladies and Gentlemen: Impressed by the spleudor wbicb sur- 

 rounds me, and by tbe sigbt of tbis large audience, I am impelled to 

 render bomage to tbe beauty and intelligence wbicb bave prepared so 

 brilliant a reception for tbe Freucb Association. Tbe members of tbe 

 society bave reason to congratulate tbemselves upon baving cboseii 

 Bordeaux for its first session. 



Our institution is one tbat appeals to general interest. Altbougb it 

 bas originated entirely in private enterprise, it rests upon bases wbicb 

 assure its continuance, and it cannot fail to survive tbe struggle wbicb 

 may be maintained for years against iiublic indifference. Yes, altbougb 

 onr debut sbould be greeted witb coldness and neglect, we would persevere, 

 for we consider tbe diffusion of knowledge as an important element of 

 tbe greatness of nations, and surely tbe necessity of tbis diffusion bas 

 been rendered palpable by tbe recent disasters wbicb bave sbown tbe 

 danger of extreme intellectual centralization. Convinced of tbe utility 

 of our objects, undismayed by obstacles, and undiscouraged by apparent 

 defeat, we will renew our sessions year by year, increasing in numbers 

 as we gradually enlist recruits, and assured tbat in a country like ours 

 success, bowever long deferred, must sooner or later crown our efforts. 



For tbe success of tbe first session, wbicb bas far surpassed our bopes, 

 tbauks are due to my esteemed colaborers, MM. Broca and Girondin ; also, 

 to tbe distinguisbed gentlemen of tbe local committee, especially Profes- 

 sor Azani, tbe intelligent and indefetigable secretary. 



Tbe subject of my discourse is tbe troglodytes, or cave-dwellers, of 

 tbe Vezere, tbat fossil population wbose subterraneous dwellings we are 

 about to investigate. 



Tbeir existence dates back to a remote antiquity. We do not know 

 tbeir names ; no bistoriau bas mentioned tbem, and it is only eigbt 

 years since tbe first traces of tbem were discovered, and yet in some re- 

 spects we are better acquainted witb tbem tban witb certain celebrated 

 nations of classic renown. We know tbeir mode of existence, tbeir arts, 

 tbeir industries, many details of tbeir lives. Does not sucb knowledge 

 constitute tbe real bistory of nations, a bistory more interesting tban 

 tbat of tbeir battles, tbeir conquests, and even tbeir dynasties ? 



