CLOSE OP POST-PLIOCENE — ADVENT OP MAN. 305 



earliest and most permanent tenants of Kent's Hole 

 at a time when its lower chambers were still filled with 

 water. Next above the breccia is a floor of " stalag- 

 mite/' or stony carbonate of lime, deposited from the 

 drippings of the roof, and in some places three feet 

 thick. This also contains bones of the cave bear, 

 deposited when there was less access of water to the 

 cavern. Mr. Pengelly infers the existence of man at 

 this time from a few flint flakes, and a few flint chips 

 found in these beds ; but mere flakes and chips of 

 flint are too often natural^ to warrant such a conclusion. A 



After the old stalagmite floor above mentioned was 

 formed, the cave again received deposits of muddy 

 water and stones; but now a change occurs in the 

 remains embedded. This stony clay, or " cave earth/' 

 has yielded an immense quantity of teeth and bones, in- 

 cluding those of the elephant, rhinoceros, horse, hyena, 

 cave bear, reindeer, and Irish elk. With these were 

 found weapons of chipped flint, and harpoons, needles, 

 and bodkins of bone, very similar to those of the 

 North American Indians and other rnde races. The 

 " cave earth " is four feet or more in thickness. It is 

 not stratified, and contains many fallen fragments of 

 rock, rounded stones, and broken pieces of stalagmite. 

 It also has patches of the excrement of hyenas, which 

 the explorers suppose to indicate the temporary resi- 

 dence of these animals ; and in one spot, near the top, is 

 a limited layer of burnt wood, with remains which in- 

 dicate the cooking and eating of repasts of animal food 

 by man. It is clear that when this bed was formed 



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