248 Br. J. G. Garson [April 20, 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, April 20, 1894. 



Sis Douglas Galton, K.C.B. D.C.L. LL.D. F.R.S. Vice-President, 



in the Chair. 



J. G. Garson, M.D. V.P. Anthrop. Inst. 



Early British Races. 



Before proceeding to trace the early history of man in Britain it is 

 necessary to refer briefly to the physical changes which geologists 

 tell us have occurred since the close of the Tertiary period in the con- 

 figuration and temperature of the north-western portion of Europe. 



At the beginning of the Pleistocene period the temperature of 

 Northern Europe became colder, and an ice cap, like that which now 

 covers Greenland, gradually extended itself probably as far south as 

 Middlesex and covered the greater part of Wales and the northern 

 half of Ireland. This is known as the Great Ice Age. At that time, 

 the land being more elevated than now, Great Britain and Ireland 

 formed part of the continent of Europe, and the western coast-line 

 extended some three or four hundred miles further into the Atlantic 

 Ocean than it does at present. This period of cold was gradually 

 succeeded by a more genial one, during which, but before the ice had 

 disappeared, a great depression and submergence of the land took 

 place, varying from about 600 feet to over 3000 feet below the present 

 level at different parts of the country, but least in the south of England. 

 The climate again became colder, and on the higher parts of Wales, 

 the north of England and in Scotland glaciers were once more formed, 

 but not to the same extent as formerly. Then followed, in late 

 Pleistocene times, a re-elevation of the land to at least 600 feet above 

 its present level, and Great Britain and Ireland once more became 

 joined to the Continent, and the climate became temperate. In all 

 probability the geographical conditions of Britain, or rather the 

 British corner of Europe, in early and late Pleistocene times were 

 almost identical. Fiually the land connection with the Continent 

 became severed by submergence till almost the present coast-line was 

 reached, and the sea once more rolled in over the beds of the German 

 Ocean and the English Channel. These changes in the geographical 

 conformation of the north-w r estern part of Europe took place slowdy, 

 and were consequently spread over an immense interval of time. 



According to some eminent geologists, man first took up his 

 abode in the British portion of Europe, either during the early 

 Glacial or Pre-glacial Period. The evidence of his existence here at 

 that early period rests upon the discovery of many flint implements 



