HUMAN HISTOEY 121 



of undoubted human workmanship. Within this early Palaeo- 

 hthic epoch three phases of culture are distinguished, the pre- 

 Chellean, Chellean, and Acheulean. It is worth while observing 

 that M. Rutot, who is a foremost supporter of the eolithic theory, 

 remarks, on arriving in a general review of the evidence at this 

 pre-Chellean period, that there can be observed the ' appari- 

 tion subite d'objets nouveaux '.^ It is precisely these ' objets 

 nouveaux ' which many authorities consider as the first genuine 

 artefacts, and not as mere improvements of a more primitive type 

 of implement. 



The typical instrument of the Chellean period was the hand 

 axe — a stone shaped to fit the hand, and used for striking blows.^ 

 Knives and scrapers were also common. In the Acheulean or 

 latest period of the Palaeohthic there is seen a general improve- 

 ment in workmanship. The hand axe is lighter and more care- 

 fully worked. There is a great variety of small implements, 

 often showing a considerable degree of care and skill. For the 

 first time there is in the Acheulean era evidence that man employed 

 fire. It does not appear that bone was yet used for making 

 implements. It can be shown that early Palaeohthic implements 

 represent a steady and continual advance in skill with the improve- 

 ment of old types and the development of new types. 



During the late Acheulean period it was becoming colder, and 

 the succeeding stage, or Middle Palaeohthic era, falls almost 

 wholly within the fourth glacial period. Man began to make 

 his home in caves, and we are well acquainted with the physical 

 type under the name of Neanderthal man, described above. 

 There are again traces of fire. Some kind of ceremonial burial 

 was employed. A skeleton found at La Chapelle-aux-Saints 

 showed that the body had been carefully disposed for burial ; 

 implements had been placed close to the body, one fine implement 

 lying within reach of the left hand. There is a marked difference 

 as regards the stone implements between this and the preceding 

 period. A different method of shaping implements was employed. 

 There is some inclination to regard the Mousterian stone industry 

 as of a lower grade than the stage previously attained. With 

 regard to this stage in general we may note that it is the first in 



> Rutot, Berne de VUniversite de Bruxelles, 1911, p. 258. = Remains of 



Chellean industry are widespread and are found outside Europe — in Africa, for 

 example, from the Cape to the Sahara. See Dechelette, loo. cit., vol. i, p. 88. 



