622 REPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



social cultures of the two epochs. The table just given, and which 

 need not be repeated, shows the industries and customs of the two 

 epochs to have nothing in common. There was a substitution complete 

 of the former by the latter. The more advanced have entirelj^ replaced 

 the primitive. It has produced a phenomenon analogous to that which 

 took place in America or the Oceanic Islands after the arrival of the 

 Europeans. There is no progressive or local development, but an in- 

 vasion of a superior civilization. There are the same changes in the 

 races of the men of the two epochs, but, by atavism, we may find the 

 type of the Chelliau man reproduced in the neolithic period. If this be 

 established by future discoveries, it would tend to show a contact of 

 the two populations and that the hiatus was not real, but only a gap 

 in our knowledge of the civilizations of the two peoples. 



NEOLITHIC PERIOD. 



There was a marked improvement in the civilization of this period 

 over that of its predecessor, the paleolithic. This extended to many 

 things, but the distinguishing feature was the art of polishing or 

 smoothing the stone implements and weapons. Therefore it has been 

 called the polished stone age. 



The characteristic implements of this period are the polished stone 

 hatchets, called celts in England and America. They are found like 

 the paleolithic Ghellian implements, which preceded them, substan- 

 tially all over ihe world, thus showing that this civiliz \tion must have 

 endured for a long period of time and comprised an extensive popula- 

 tion. The materials differ according to locality, and the form may 

 vary with the requirements of the material. 



The standard hatchet in Alaska is made of nephrite, that of the West 

 Indies may be made of shell ; there may be also slight differences of 

 form, some having a square top, others being pointed. The Scandinavian 

 hatchets are usually square in section and therein are different from 

 others ; they are also much longer, but this arises from the peculiarities of 

 the material. The general likeness in these implements prevails through- 

 out the world notwithstanding the minor differences mentioned. While 

 an experienced prehistoric archaeologist may be able to determine from 

 an inspection of the polished stone hatchet from what country it comes 

 and possibly to what locality it belongs, yet the statement is true that 

 they are substantially the same implement and that the invention of the 

 art of polishing, together witii the form of hatchet, has passed by com- 

 munication from people to people, country to country, and descended 

 from generation to generation until it has spread everywhere. A series 

 of the polished stone hatchets, or celts, from almost any one of the 

 United States will stand as a fair representative of the same implement 

 in any other State or country. The single exception to the universality 

 of this statement is from Scandinavia. I shall not at present attempt 

 any general description of the implements, weapons, or ornaments of 



