Use of Cowrr-s/ie/Is for Currency, Aiiiuie/s, etc. \y^ 



from the Faluns of Touiaine. Mention is also made ol 

 a collection of objects from the Cave of Bruin"quel, com- 

 prising carnivore teeth and perforated marine shells, 

 including a Cypuca an inch in length, not improbable- 

 derived from the Miocene beds of the Garomic.'' 



Since Christ}-'s diggings in Laugerie-Hasse," this cave- 

 has \-ielded many other interesting objects, including two 

 species of Mediterranean cowries, perforated for use as 

 pendants. Particulars of the discovery of the cowries 

 are given in a paper b\- Massenat and others'"' dealing 

 with the finding of a human skeleton (the so-called 

 homme ecrasse) in this cave. The latter seems to have 

 been a ceremonial interment in the contracted posture. 

 The situation of the objects which accompanied the 

 skeleton was studied with scrupulous attention and a 

 score of shells were found. These were determined b}' 

 Mortillet as belonging to two different species of Mediter- 

 ranean cowries, Cyprcua pyriim,QiVC\€\\\-\ (or r/z/^z Lam.), and 

 Cypnca hirida L. The most interesting fact concerning 

 them is that the\' were arranged in pairs upon the body ; 

 two pairs on the forehead, one near each humerus, four in 

 the region of the knees and thighs, two upon each foot. 

 The discoverer dismisses the idea of a necklace or bracelets 

 and suggests they were intended to adorn a garment. 

 Each cowry was pierced with a notch. 



Cowries have also been found in the celebrated Men- 

 tone Caves alongside human skeletons, which can with 



"" Ibid., p. 179 (Text). 



="* Ibid., p. 288 (Text). 



= •-' E. Massenat, I'h. Lalamle ^: Cartailliac, "Deouiveitc d'un squelette 

 humain de I'age dii renne a Laugerie-Bas.se (I)ordogne)." ConipUi Kiiidu 

 deFAcad. des Sciences, vol. 74, 1872, pp. 1060-3 ; also Paul Ciirod and K. 

 Massenat, '■ Les Stations de I'Age du Renne dans les vallees de la Vczcrc 

 et de la Conxze— Laugerie-Ba.sse," Paris, 1900, pp. 24-5. .Sollas (" Ancient 

 Hunters," 2nd Kd., 1915, y. 509, fig. 288) gives a figure uifter Carlailliac) 

 of this interesting Imrial, with the associated shells. 



