300 EARLY MAN IN BRITAIN. [CHAP. vm. 



Animals probably derived from Central Asia. 



From this outline it is clear the domestic * animals 

 were not domesticated in Europe, but that they had 

 already been under the care of man probably for long 

 ages in some other region. The turf-hog, the Celtic 

 short-horn, the sheep, and the goat, must have been 

 domesticated in the countries in which their wild 

 ancestors were captured by the hunter in Central Asia. 

 To this region also belong the jackal, the wild boar, 

 and the wild horse, and in ancient times the urus^ It 

 is therefore probable that all these domestic animals 

 came into Europe with their masters from the south- 

 east, from the Central Plateau of Asia, the ancient 

 home of all the present European peoples* 



This conclusion is confirmed by an examination of 

 the Neolithic cultivated seeds and fruits. 



The Cultivated Seeds and Fruits. 



The seeds and fruits, cultivated by the Neolithic 

 inhabitants of the Swiss pile-dwellings, give us most 

 important information as to the arts of agriculture and 

 gardening in the Neolithic age. In the fields, as Pro- 



1 I am not aware of any well-authenticated case of the discovery of 

 any of the domestic animals in any part of Europe in any deposits older 

 than the Prehistoric age ; and I find, on consulting Professors Gaudry 

 and Riitiineyer, and Drs. Virchow and Forsyth Major, that they also have 

 not met with the domestic animals in the undisturbed Pleistocene strata of 

 their respective countries. The remains of the domestic animals, however, 

 are frequently found in caverns brought into association with Pleistocene 

 species, either by the hand of man, or by the burrowing of rats, rabbits, 

 badgers, or foxes. 



