1823.] Mr. Weaver on Fossil Human BoneL 19 



occurs at the foot of the opposite range, on the W, near Kos- 

 tritz and Kaschwitz, in the same manner as it appears near Ties- 

 chiitz, not far from Hartmannsdorf, in the whole of which extent 

 the numerous gypsum quarries afford an insight into its charac- 

 ter. The depressions and sinkings of the earth which occur in 

 the vicinity, proclaim that we have entered upon the domain of 

 the cavernous gypsum and limestone, the latter of which is, as 

 usual, covered by the variegated or new red sandstone forma- 

 tion, which appears near Hartmannsdorf, and on the ridge of 

 the chain of heights near Politz. Over the whole of these floetz 

 formations is spread an alluvial loamy tract, which is sometimes 

 sandy, extends for many miles, and yields to the landholder a 

 rich return when duly cultivated.* 



After this concise general view of the country, and of the 

 order and succession of the floetz formations, appearing near 

 Kbstritz, I now proceed to a nearer description of the limestone 

 and gypsum, with a detail of the circumstances under which the 

 bones of land animals are not unfrequently found in those rocks. 



The varieties of this limestone formation have obtained, as is 

 well known, different appellations from miners, among which 

 zechstein is one of the principal. Near Politz, that kind of 

 zechstein appears more particularly to prevail, which passes 

 into the cavernous limestone, being traversed, as may be seen in 

 the upper quarries, immediately under the new red sandstone, 

 by very considerable fissures and cavities, which often exceed 

 12 feet in breadth, the walls of which are coated with stalactite ; 

 while the smaller fissures are frequently wholly filled with that 

 substance. The rock ranges 30° to 45° to the E of S, and W 

 of N, with an inclination toward the NE, in strata which are in 

 some places a few feet thick, and in others very thin, alternating 

 with slight layers of clay marl, that are partially sandy ; being 

 also traversed by numerous fissures/ in various directions. At 

 the foot of the heights, this limestone approaches more nearly to 

 the character of zechstein ; and in the next quarry, near Politz, 

 it contains aphrite, distributed in nests, yet only in small por- 

 tions, and not in such considerable masses as occur on the other 

 side of the Elster toward Gera. In the vicinity of the latter 

 town, the rock appears as gryphite limestone, yielding, as is well 

 known, fine specimens of gryphites aculeatus and g. cymbium, 

 beside indistinct remains of other shells, which seem to belong 

 to mytulites ceratophagus and terebratulites lacunosus. On the 



• I have throughout this paper employed the expression alluvial tracts or formations 

 (aufgeschwc uiemte gebirge) in the sense established by common usage ; namely, as a 

 general term, comprehending both diluviaii and post-diluvian deposits, yet involving 

 no absolute decision with respect to either era. Wherever such epochs are distinctly 

 marked, the latter terms become strictly appropriate ; but in questions of a doubtful 

 nature (such as that which constitutes the subject of the present article) the former 

 retains its use. To confine the signification of the word alluvial to that of post-diluvian 

 merely, as lately proposed, would be to deprive ourselves of a useful general expression. 

 — T. W. 



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