282 THE EEV. J. MAGENS MELLO^ M.A., F.G.S.^ ETC.j ON 



adaptation, of the dwelling house, that the ancient inhabi- 

 tants of Scandinavia, nnable to imagine a future altogether 

 different from tlie present, or a world quite unlike our own, 

 showed their respect and affection for the dead by burying 

 the house with the owner, and the grave was hterally the 

 dwelling of the dead. When a great man died he was 

 placed on his favoiuite seat, food and drink were ar- 

 ranged before him in earthenware vessels, and his weapons 

 and ornaments placed by his side," and all buried together. 



Relujion. 



I have alluded to the probability that the Neolithic burial 

 customs denoted a belief in a future existence. 



There can be little doubt that Neolithic man had some of 

 the elements of religion, whatever may be said as- to his 

 Palaeolithic predecessors. This elaborate burial of the dead 

 in conjunction with his arms, ornaments, and domestic 

 appliances seems surely to denote a certain amount of belief 

 in a future existence after death. Occasionally what appear 

 to be only models of some of the implements, such as axes 

 or celts were buried with the corpse, such miniature weapons 

 being sometimes made of jade or of amber, in some instances 

 these have been found pierced as if for suspension, others 

 intentionally broken in half have also been found. 



In France sculptured figures of stone celts or hammers 

 have been found on some of the stone blocks at tlie entrance 

 of sepulchral chambers, such sculptures are Jiot infrequent 

 in Brittany, suggesting the thought that here, as amongst' 

 some of the ancient Eastern peoples, the axe was on account 

 perhaps of its great utility an object ot veneration.* Besides 

 these figures there are others cut in the stone, such as spirals 

 and various geometrical designs which may or may not have 

 been symbolical. 



M. Cartailhac and others have called attention to certain 

 curious cup-shaped hollows evidently of artificial origin, 

 and found in groups on rocks in Brittany and in the Pyrenees, 

 and other parts of France, and also in Switzerland and in 

 India, which have been objects of superstitious observances 

 from time immemorial, whatever may have been their original 

 significance. 



* Tliis we can well believe, as at a far later date we find that the 

 Rajpoots in India were in the habit of Avoishippiog their swords. 



