278 OOiMPAiRlI'SiO'N OF THE TASIMlANlI.AiN TRONATTA. 



by the beautiful leaf-shaped implements, gives still nume- 

 rous archaeolithic implements, but it would go too far to 

 follow them through, the more modern stages. 



We see, therefore, that archaeolithic implements are 

 not restricted to the oldest industries only; they occur at 

 all periods; even at the early metalhferous period they 

 were still used. But the difference is this, that while the 

 older industries up to the Mesvinien exclusively used the 

 unsymmetrical archaeolithic, the younger industries, 

 from the Strepyien upwards, used the symmetrical palaeo- 

 lithe in preference to the archaeolithe. It is probably 

 correct to assume that as Httle as the archaeolithe changed 

 its character, equally little were the manipulations for 

 which it was used changed. The archaeolithe was still 

 used as a scraper, chopper, or knife, but it was, with very 

 few exceptions, never used as a weapon. The sym- 

 metrical palaeolithe, of intentional shape, was the 

 weapon. 



These facts seem to indicate that Mortillet's system is 

 untenable, because forms that are considered character- 

 istic for the different stages occur simultaneously in Tas- 

 mania or the Au^^tralian continent. Yet it is quite certain 

 that such a view would be erroneous. The stages distin- 

 guished in Europe are based on well ascertained geo- 

 logical and palaeontological evidence, and in Australia 

 we must discriminate between two stages at least, viz. — 



The older — archaeolithic stage without the dingo ; 

 The younger — palaeolithic-neolithic stage with the 

 dingo. 



To mix up the European stages would be quite as 

 erroneous as to mix up the two Australian stages, as 

 advocated by Herr Klaatsch. All these stages are chrono- 

 logically different, and must be kept separate. 



Similarity of form does not necessarily prove syn- 

 chronism. If this were so the Tasmanian civilisation 

 would be synchronogical to the Fagien, or the Aurigna- 

 cien — in fact to any stage in which archaeolithes were 

 used. Unless corroborated by other evidence, stratigra- 

 phical or palaeontological, the age of an industry cannot 

 be deduced from form alone, a fact which has not been 

 generally recognised, but which is conclusively proved 

 by the Tasmanian tronattas. 



