STUDY OF HIGH ANTIQUITY. 311 



these beyond the central region in ihv two sides. But wliere stratification bc- 

 c-ame apparent, it was perfectly parallel with the present surface of tlu; cone. 



All these circumstances go to establish in a highly satisfactory manner the 

 regularity in the formation and growth of the cone;. Now, as the hydrographi- 

 cal basin of the Tiniere, surveyed throughout by the author, is r(>gular, and 

 t^hows no traces of landslips or of other accidents, which might have disturbed 

 the regiilar working of the torrent, and as the meteorology of the country does 

 not appear to have vandergone any alterations of note in modern times, we may 

 admit that the rate of formation and of growth of the cone in question has 

 been proportionate to the volume of its alluvium. The partial clearing of the 

 forests in the hydrographical basin of the Tiniere may have contributed in some 

 slight degree to accelerate the supiu-ficial degradation of the latter. But if this 

 effect had been marked, which is doubtful, it would tend to carry higher the 

 dates we shall proceed to deduce, and not to bring them lower down. 



In the southern flank of the cone, where it was protected, as wc have seen 

 by the embankments of 1710, three beds or layers of ancient mould were dis- 

 c>overed, situated at different depths, which had, each in its time, formed the 

 surface of the cone. These three layers were regularly interstratifled in the 

 gravel exactly parallel with each other and with the modern surface of the 

 cone, which was itself most regular and inclined by 4 degrees along the line 

 of the steepest dip. 



The first of these beds of vegetable mould was found from actual observation 

 to extend, in the southern part of the cone, over a surface of more than 15,000 

 square feet. It was from 4 to 6 inches thick and was situated at a depth of 4 

 feet beneath the present surface of the ground; (more exactly at 0.14 metr<.', 

 measured down to the bottom of the bed.) It belonged to the Roman era, as 

 it was found to contain angular fragments of Roman tiles and a Roman coin in 

 bad condition, but of too good a type to be of the lower empire. The Romans 

 invaded the country after the battle of Bibracte, 58 years before Christ. Allow- 

 ing them a century to settle in Helvetia, and to raise buildings covered with tiles, 

 this Roman bed would date, at the most, 18 centuries back. In the year 56,"j 

 after Christ, the tremendous landslip of Tauredunum ravaged the neighbor- 

 hood; by that time the Roman dominion had passed away and had made room, 

 about a century before, for the reign of the Burgundians, who do not appear to 

 have practiced masonry or the manufacture of tiles. The Roman bed must 

 (X)nseq\iently be at least 13 centuries old. 



Th(! second bed of ancient mould was followed up, on the soutln'rn side of 

 the cone, over a space of about 25,000 square feet. It Avas about 6 inches 

 thick, and stood 10 feet (more exactly at 2.97 metres, measured down to the 

 bottom of the bed) below the present surfiicc of the ground. It contained a 

 few fragments of pottery, made of clay mixed up with grains of sand, and un- 

 varnished; also a pair of tweezers, (for plucking out the hair,) cast in bronze, 

 and of the characteristic style of the bronze-age. 



The third and lowest of these beds of mould was uncovered, on the southern 

 Bide of the cone, over a space of about 3,500 square feet. It was from 6 to 7 

 inches thick, and was met with at a depth of 19 feet (or, to be exact, 5.69 metres) 

 below the present surface of the cone. It yielded at one point on the north 

 side of the cone a human skeleton, the skull of which was very round and 

 pmall, and remarkably thick, showing a strongly-marked IMongolian (turanian 

 or brachyccphalic) type, according to the measurements and examination insti- 

 tuted on the spot by T. M. G. Montagu. The same bed yielded at another 

 point, on the southern side of the cone, numerous fragments of very coarse 

 pottery, charcoal, and broken bones of animals, evidently kitchen re-fuse. Tho 

 bones have been examined by Professor Rutimeyer, at Bale, author of a re- 

 mai-kable work on the animal remains of the antique pile works or lake dwell- 



