484 



PETKIFACTIONS AND THEIR TEACHINGS. 



CHAP. VI. 



These fossil human skeletons were extracted from the sloping bank 

 of limestone that extends from the base of the high cliffs of the island 

 to the sea-shore, and is almost wholly submerged at high tides, as shown 

 in the annexed diagram (Lign. 115). This limestone is composed of 

 consolidated sand, and the detritus of shells and corals of species 

 that inhabit the neighbouring sea. Land-shells, fragments of pottery, 

 stone arrow-heads, carved wooden ornaments, and detached human 

 bones, are occasionally found imbedded in it. A polished slab of 

 this limestone forms the top of the table in front of Wall-case D, This 



rock is a modern concretionary lime- 

 stone, consisting of the detritus of 

 shells and corals cemented together 

 by infiltration of carbonate of lime 

 from the percolation of water ; a com- 

 mon formation along the sea-shore of 

 tropical countries ; as, for example, in 

 the Bermudas, where limestone, com- 

 pact enough for building, is rapidly 

 formed by a similar process. 1 



The human skeletons of Guadaloupe 

 are the relics of a tribe of Gallibis, 

 that were slaughtered by the Caribs in 

 a conflict that took place near the spot 

 about 150 years ago; the slain were 

 buried in the sand on the shore, which 

 subsequently became indurated by the 

 process above described. 



Fossil human skeletons have also 

 been found in solid calcareous tufa 

 near the river Santa in Peru. Bones 

 belonging to some scores of individuals 

 were discovered in travertine, con- 

 taining some fragments of marine 

 shells which retain their original 

 colour ; yet this bed of stone is covered 

 by a deep vegetable soil, and forms 

 the face of a hill crowned with brush- 

 wood and large trees. 



From the facts thus briefly noticed, 2 

 the reader will perceive that the occurrence of remains of Man with 

 those of extinct animals, in a deposit overlaid by a thick mass of 

 solid rock, must not be regarded as affording a certain proof that the 

 human bones are as ancient as those of the quadrupeds with which they 

 are associated. 



In Europe, the first appearance of MAN, as indicated by the remains 



LIGN. 114. 



FOSSIL HUMAN SKELETON; FROM 

 GUADALOUPE. 



( The original 4 feet 2 inches long, by 

 2 feet wide.) 



" Wonders of Geology," p. 84. 

 2 For a fuller consideration of this problem, I would beg to refer the 



reader to my " DISCOURSE ON THE CONNEXION BETWEEN RCH^oLOGr AND 

 GEOLOGY," previously cited. Archaeological Journal, January 1851. 



