FOSSIL MAN. 265 



that characterize the lowest known form of hu- 

 manity palaeolithic man of prehistoric archae- 

 ology were gradually discarded for smaller and 

 more specialized ones. This change was doubt- 

 less the result of faunal changes that required a 

 compound instead of a simple implement, as an 

 effective weapon a small spear-head attached to 

 a shaft, instead of a sharpened stone held in the 

 hand ; and we find now, as characteristic of con- 

 ditions geologically later than the gravel-beds, a 

 well-designed spear-point, larger than Indian ar- 

 row-heads, of a remarkably uniform pattern, and 

 which might readily be supposed to be the handi- 

 work of the historic Indians. But let us examine 

 into the history of these objects a' little closely. 

 In the first place, the conditions under which these 

 rude spear-points are found, as a rule, are very 

 significant. In certain upland fields, never far 

 from water-courses, and which were the high, 

 dry, habitable localities when the later gravel 

 areas were yet comparatively low and swampy, 

 these objects are found in great abundance, and 

 very often not associated with the familiar forms 

 of Indian implements. Again, they also occur 

 in the alluvial mud which has been for centuries, 

 and is still, accumulating over the tide-water 

 meadows that skirt the banks of the Delaware 

 River from Trenton to the sea. Now, it may be 

 maintained that we are without warrant in as- 



