A STUDY OF PREHISTOKIC ANTHEOPOLOGY. 623 



this period. That will be reserved until I come to speak of those from 

 the United States, when it can be done more in detail and will not be a 

 repetition. 



The stone arrow or spear-head or knife is another equally charater- 

 istic implement or weapon of this period. The North American Indian 

 was iu the neolithic j^eriod of the civilization at the time of the discovery 

 of the continent by Christopher Columbus. Although he used copper 

 as a material for implements, yet it did not displace stone nor was its 

 use sufficiently extended to establish an age of copper. 



Another characteristic of the neolithic period was its monuments. 

 Their erection and construction by man began in this period, and are 

 therefore its oldest representatives in every country. In the United 

 States they consist of mounds and earthworks, likewise stone and other 

 forts. In western Europe principally of dolmens, menhirs, cromlechs, 

 and alignments. I will not attempt any description of the monuments 

 of the United States further than to say that many of them are believed 

 to have been places of sepulture. Some of the forts, from their appear- 

 ance and location, seem to have been erected as places of defense or for 

 safety. But there are vast numbers both of mounds and earthworks 

 which would seem so illy suited for the respective purposes indicated as 

 that it is difficult to believe they were so intended. Many theories and 

 arguments have been presented, but much of it has been of that kind 

 which darkeneth wisdom by words without knowledge. 



The excavations into the mounds and other prehistoric monuments 

 in the United States have been unfortunately made more in pursuit of 

 trinkets and to add numbers to the owner's collection than in the in- 

 terest of science or for the purpose of discovering the history, customs, 

 or civilization of the men who made the mounds. Any description at 

 this time would necessarily be imperfect, and probably all who read 

 this pamphlet will have had as much general and indefinite knowledge 

 of these monuments as could be here given. Those who would know 

 more concerning this subject must be referred to the special works 

 treating thereon. 



DOLMENS. 



The neolithic monuments of western Europe may be briefly described. 



The dolmen wa^s made in the form of a chamber or series of com- 

 municating chambers or alley- ways with sides, floor, and covers, and 

 was a tomb.* Its floor and entrance were at about the level of the 

 neighboring surface, and the entire monument is believed to have been 

 covered with earth ; thus in ancient times it was a tumulus, t 



The covering stones of a dolmen have been found to weigh 5j 10, 20, 

 and 40 tons. | Used for sepulture they may be described as houses for 

 the dead. They are perhaps the earliest form of receptacle for the dead, 

 although the Kistvaen, made of smaller flat stones with sides, ends, top, 



* Plates xcv to xcix. J Plate xcviij Fig. 1. 



t Plate xcvi, Fig. 1, aud Plate xcviii, Fig. 2. 



