Proceedings. 41 



have been that actual self-defence caused the killing of the 

 first animal. 



The first object that would present itself to the seeker for 

 a weapon, or missile, would be a stone. Not only do we see 

 this almost every day in our own civUized time, but in the 

 actual absence of any other weapon, such an object as a loose 

 stone would doubly suggest itself for the purpose in view. 

 We thus see that pre-historic man's first weapon was in every 

 probability a stone, and, as I have already stated, a natural 

 stone ; and it may have been long ere the natural rough flints 

 or other hard stones gave place to worked specimens, the 

 earliest types of worked implements show so little alteration 

 by chipping that this view seems to me a very probable one. 



Before, however, speaking of such implements, I will say a 

 few words about flint from which most stone weapons were 

 fabricated. In many parts of Europe flint occurs plentifully, 

 not only in situ in the Chalk, but also in post-tertiary river- 

 gravels. Chert and Chalcedony also are found, though in 

 less quantity, and in granite districts quartz or quartzites 

 presented a somewhat similar material. Now it is evident 

 that primeval man was not slow to find out the advantages 

 possessed by flint over other and softer stone. It broke with 

 a sharp (often cutting) edge, it was of great hardness and 

 durability, and above all, it was comparatively easy to obtain. 



It is remarkable that worked flints and flint flakes are often 

 found in places where flint is not found naturally. The best 

 instance I have seen of this is in a cave I examined in 

 Jersey. The island is composed almost entirely of igneous 

 rocks, with a few tilted beds of clay-slates, &c. Yet in a cave 

 in the Syenite rock I discovered a veritable pre-historic work- 

 shop : hundreds of rough weapons and thousands of chips and 

 flakes were buried in a floor of decomposed felspar. Now, 

 nowhere in the Channel Islands is there any chalk, and there- 

 fore no flints, so it is evident that flint, being an article of 

 such value to early man, became, in a way, a considerable 

 object of commerce. 



In countries far remote, where flint is scarce or unknown, 

 other forms of silica were called into requisition. From the 



