EUROPEAN DILUVIAL MAN 



47 



veloped and attained to a higher state of culture ? When we 

 consider that in many parts of Europe (Belgium, Switzerland 

 and Austria) a completely new neolithic stratum occurs im- 

 mediately above the palaeolithic, that in others again between 

 the two strata an entirely neutral one occurs, varying in depth, 

 we are justified in rejecting the theory of a gradual transition. 

 Many parts of France, too, by the occurrence of a perfectly 

 neutral stratum between palaeolithic and neolithic go to prove 

 the migration of the reindeer hunters and a subsequent period 

 of abandonment before the advent of a new race. On the other 

 hand, discoveries have been made in parts of North and South 

 France and North Italy whereby a gradual transition from the 

 one period to the other may be traced. 

 In the cave at Mas d'Azil, Piette 

 found the small stone implements of 

 the palaeolithic age, but no sign of 

 the art productions of that time. In- 

 stead there were flat pebbles (see 

 Fig. 4), bearing peculiar signs painted 

 in red, resembling the hieroglyphics 

 of the oldest civilisations. There 

 were no signs of pottery, ground 

 stones, or domestic animals (the usual 

 neolithic characters), the only suggestions of the period being 

 the grains of corn and the rind of stone-fruit. 



At that time, called by the French the Asylien (Tourassien) 

 Period, the climate must have closely resembled that of the 

 present day, the fauna also being the same. The reindeer had 

 disappeared and the stag had taken its place, and from its 

 antlers the hunters carved harpoons. It is possible that some of 

 the palaeolithic reindeer hunters had remained and now hunted 

 the stag instead. It is not to be assumed, however, that palae- 

 olithic man himself laid the foundations of the later culture 

 of which we find traces in his dwelling-places ; indeed, we are 

 compelled to believe that this culture was due to the influence 

 of strangers who gradually supplanted the old-established popu- 

 lation. 



Our acquaintance with the physical structure of the man of 

 this transitionary period is very slight, being obtained from the 



FIG. 4. Red painted pebbles 

 from Mas d'Azil. (Homes.) 



