272 EARLY MAN IN BRITAIN. [CHAP. vin. 



somewhat of this kind. Thin lines of smoke rising 

 from among the trees of the dense virgin forest at our 

 feet would mark the position of the Neolithic home- 

 steads, and of the neighbouring stockaded camp which 

 afforded refuge in time of need ; while here and there . 

 a gleam of gold would show the small patch of ripen- 

 ing wheat. We enter a track in the forest, and thread 

 our way to one of the clusters of homesteads, passing 

 herds of goats and flocks of horned sheep, or disturbing 

 a troop of horses or small short-horned oxen, or stum- 

 bling upon a swineherd tending the hogs in their .search 

 after roots. We should probably have to defend our- 

 selves against the attack of some of the large dogs, used 

 as guardians of the flock against bears, wolves, and foxes, 

 and for hunting the wild animals. At last, on emerging 

 into the clearing, we should see a little plot of flax or 

 small-eared wheat, and near the homestead. the inhabit- 

 ants, clad some in linen and others in skins, and orna- 

 mented with necklaces and pendants of stone, bone, pr 

 pottery, carrying on their daily occupations. Some are. 

 cutting wood with stone axes (Fig. 99) with a wonder- 

 fully sharp edge, fixed in wooden handles, as in Fig. 100; 

 with stone adzes and gouges, or with little saws com- 

 posed of carefully notched pieces of flint about three or 

 four inches long, splitting it with stone wedges,' scraping 

 it with flint flakes. Some are at work preparing handles 

 for the spears, shafts for the arrows, and wood for the 

 bows, or for the broad paddles used for propelling the 

 canoes. Others are busy grinding and sharpening the 

 various stone tools, scraping skins with implements 

 ground to a circular edge, or carving various imple- 

 ments out of bone and antler with sharp splinters of 

 flint, while the women are preparing the meal with 



