TRANSLATIONS AND SELECTED ARTICLES. 955 
and tertiary, was introduced about thirty years ago. At first restricted 
in its application to the Scandinavian countries, it gradually extended 
to Germany, England, and Switzerland, and it now penetrates by 
Piedmont to Italy, rendering everywhere important services. We are 
now endeavouring to subdivide these three great principal phases in 
the development of civilization. The Danish antiquaries, at the head 
of whom is M. Worsaae, believe they can distinguish by the quality of 
the objects, and the mode of construction of the tombs, a first and 
second age of stone. The learned explorer of Mecklenburg, M. Lisch 
at Schwerin, thinks that the first centuries of the age of bronze were 
not acquainted with the casting of metal pieces, hollow inside, and that 
these indicate a considerable progress in the art of the founder, and 
characterise the last centuries of the age of bronze. At the same time, 
we begin to recognise in Denmark and in Switzerland a first age ante- 
historical of iron, and to distinguish it from a second age of iron 
joining on to historical times. In fine, it was necessary to begin 
by establishing, by means of large incisions (coupures), a small num- | 
ber of epochs clearly defined, .as we at first established the great 
divisions of the earth in geology. But we are beginning now tw re- 
cognise, as in geology, the indications of the gradual passing of one 
epoch into the other. Thus, although the presence of edged objects 
in bronze ordinarily excludes iron, there are, however, tombs like those 
at Hallstatt (Austrian Alps) which contain the bronze sword, with 
the iron knife or axe. But, then, an attentive study of the whole of 
the circumstances, shows that the tombs belong to a time of transition 
from bronze to iron. At Hallstatt, the transition evidently took place » 
quietly and gradually. At other points, it seems to have been effected 
rudely enough, perhaps by the iavasion of enemies, or by social revo: 
lutions, recalling geological perturbations which have so often estabs 
lished a decided difference between strata immediately superimposed. 
We have just seen how the basis of our science has been established. 
This historical sketch has already revealed to us some fundamental 
principles ; but it becomes us to consider more closely, and to place 
in detail our great means of practical research. In order to arrive at 
the comprehension of our species, we must naturally commence by 
learning its present state, by studying man, not only in civilised coun- 
tries, but in following him wherever he has succeeded in establishing 
himself. That is to say, we must start from ethnology ; and we have 
seen that it is precisely this proceeding which has most contributed te 
