HUMAN HISTOKY 111 



All classes of mammals were in process of rapid evolution. After 

 this epoch of evolution, specialization, and adaptation, the way- 

 was opened to the taking of the lead by a species which exceeded 

 others rather in intelhgence than in bodily superiority. The pre- 

 human ancestor, we must suppose, had somewhat fallen behind 

 in this contest to achieve adaptation by means of specialization, 

 and could not then have taken a prominent place among mam- ■ 

 malian species. Nevertheless, somehow he managed to maintain 

 himself, and ultimately, as we shall point out later on, the retention 

 of a generalized bodily form became of a very distinct advantage 

 in that it enabled the best use to be made of his growing intellect. 



4. The fossil remains of man from the Pleistocene are few and 

 incomplete. It is a matter of great interest to observe in what 

 subdivision of the Pleistocene these fossils occur, in which 

 glacial or genial epoch, that is to say, they are found, as in this 

 manner some indication can be gained, if not of their absolute, 

 then of their relative, distance from the present epoch in time. 

 As already mentioned, abundant evidence of human cultural 

 remains are also found in the Pleistocene, and these remains 

 likewise can be associated with the subdivisions of the period. 

 Various names have been given to these cultural periods, and 

 we shall glance later at the evidence upon which these periods 

 are based. But it will be of assistance now to give a table showing 

 how the cultural periods are connected with the subdivisions of 

 the epoch, as it will thus be apparent how the fossil remains stand 

 in relation not only to the glacial and genial periods, but also to 

 the cultural periods.^ 



With regard to this table, except in respect to epochs of the 

 later post-glacial period, the dates are only intended to give an 

 idea of relative distance in time.^ Some approximation to accuracy 

 can be obtained for the Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron ages. In the 

 case of the latter two epochs, different dates have been given 

 for the beginning of the period in the Orient and in Europe. 

 The remaining dates refer to Europe only. As many cultures, so 

 far as can be deduced from the evidence, came from the Orient, 

 the beginnings of such culture periods in the Orient are doubtless 

 to be dated some considerable time before they first appeared in 



* The table is based on those given by Osbom (Old Stone Age, pp. 18 and 41). 

 ^ To show how the estimates vary it may be mentioned that Sollas {Anr.ient 

 Hunters, ch. xiv) only allows 27,000 years since the close of the Chellean period. 



