I40 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL.83 



section of this end of the cave and its filling shows the following features : The 

 layer, in which bones are most abundant, dips a little to the southeast. 



Present roof of cave. — This is composed of a soft, easily disintegrated clay, in 

 which lie pieces of quartz, broken bones of larger animals and innumerable little 

 bones of small animals, some of which have been identified. The roof is thickly 

 studded with beautiful clear white crystals of phosphate of zinc (hopeite). 

 Towards the north another class of small crystals becomes frequent. These are 

 dull red or brown and resemble short moss. The solid face of ore is covered with 

 them. The yellow clay stratum comes within about i^ feet from the roof and 

 with the aid of a strong light it can be seen that this open space extends for 

 some distance upwards. On top of the clay, crystals of phosphate of zinc are also 

 numerous. In the clay stratum pieces of bone, teeth, etc., are in large numbers 

 and in the side of the tunnel a piece of a large bone some 8 inches wide was 

 found. Below the yellow stratum the filling lies in very distinct thin layers 

 which, however, do not run evenly, but dip in several directions as shown. A 

 thin seam of carbonate or lime crystals runs downwards through this filling 

 which is of a blackish colour and corresponds to the residue which would be left 

 from the decomposition of limestone. The fragments of bone became very scarce 

 towards the bottom of the tunnel. It will be noticed that the filling in of the 

 tunnel has receded or settled down from the roof and back from the end of the 

 cave. 



Another noteworthy feature is that the roof at this place is neither ore nor 

 limestone but clay and with it are mingled innumerable small bones and also 

 some pieces of large bones. These facts will be referred to later in the paper. 

 The portion of the cave exposed in the tunnel from the upper drive presents some 

 different features. The roof is limestone, the bone layer is not so thick but the 

 bones are larger. They lie on a bed of soft black debris, are considerably altered, 

 evidently by contact with zinc-bearing solutions and are coated with a thin 

 blackish film which cements them together so firmly that great care is required 

 to separate them from each other. The bones identified as a species of rhinoceros 

 were found here in a position which indicates that they must have been thrown 

 in as it were in a corner. In no instance do the bones lie in such a manner as 

 would indicate that they formed part of an entire animal. They are generally 

 broken, but show no signs of having been gnawed by carnivora. On the other 

 hand there is distinct evidence that the cave was occupied by human beings of a 

 very low type. 



Evidences of human occupation. — These can be summarized as follows : Stone 

 implements, chiefly flakes of white opaque quartz, not at all suitable for such 

 purposes, some nevertheless showing distinctly the chipping, cutting or scraping 

 edges and notches. Implements of a close grained reddish stone, one being 

 distinctly serrated. Bones showing cuts or notches, one being chipped into a 

 rough hexagonal form. Pieces of bone, ivory or horn, shaped as if used for dig- 

 ging roots. Large rounded pebbles of quartzite which must have been brought 

 from a distance and were probably used for breaking up marrow bones. The 

 size of some of the bones and position and manner in which they are found 

 makes it very improbable that they are the remains of animals which have died 

 in the cave from natural causes or have been dragged in by beasts of prey. 



Formation or origin of the cave and its subsequent filling in. — Although, in 

 view of the little exploratory work done, it is rather premature to advance 

 theories regarding these points, the following suggestions may be put forward 



