THE UNITY OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 557 



of Grotto of Hoteaux.^ The fireplaces, that is to say, the ashes, cov- 

 ered an area of about 71 square yards, wherein have been found numer- 

 ous worked objects. The flakes, scrapers, points, and gravers of 

 flint, poniards and needles of bone, witli divers other ornaments, prin- 

 cipally of teeth and shell perforated for suspension, and engraved bones, 

 among which was a baton de commandement of reindeer horn orna- 

 mented with a figure of a deer. Animal bones abounded. The animals 

 belonged in general to the fauna of the later quaternary period. Those 

 of the reindeer [Cervus tarandus) are found in the lower fireplaces or 

 ash beds; those of the deer {Cervus elaphas) in the upper ones. 



The skeleton of a young person, 15 to 18 years of age, was extended 

 in the midst of the debris and ashes of the oldest fireplace.^ The bones 

 were covered with red ocher, and were in their natural position. MM. 

 D'Acy and Boule, whose authority in such matters will not be denied, 

 have classed this burial with the reindeer age. The sepulchers of 

 Baousse-Eousse, Eaymonden, and Hoteaux, afford certain proofs that 

 the custom of reddening human bones dates from the Paleolithic period 

 and, possibly, we ought to assign to the same period the skeletons from 

 the GLrotte des Hommes near St. More (Yonne).'' Further excavations 

 have, unfortunately, given results not so complete nor conclusive as 

 those just cited. Most of the debris found was in a fragmentary state 

 and could not be determined. We have only recognized the human 

 teeth and phalanges incrusted in calcareous concretions. Many of 

 these bones have been colored, jirobably by the action of fire.^ 



The Neolithic period has furnished other and more interesting exam- 

 ples. All those interested in prehistoric anthropology know of the 

 great discoveries of Judge Piette in Mas d'Azil, 1887-88. One must 

 admire the science with which these excavations were directed, and 

 the care and exactness with which our learned colleague has described 

 them.^ 



If we follow from top to bottom the different strata of the deposit on 

 the left banks of the Arise, where it enters the cavern (Mas d'Azil), we 

 will find successively : 



A. Blocks of stone, with a varying thickness of from 2i to 6 feet, 

 fallen from the roof. 



B. A layer of ashes 2 feet in thickness containing vast numbers of 

 snails {Helix nenioralis), and the bones of deer, wild boar, ox, and goat, 

 and associated with them, flint blades and pieces finely worked, scra- 

 pers, points and burnishers of bone, walnuts and hazelnuts, acorns, 

 seeds of the maple, vestiges of chestnuts, nuts of the prune, cherry, 



iLes liommes prebistoriques dans I'Ain. Boule, Anthropologie; 1895. D'Acy, La 

 grotte des Hoteaux, Bui. Soc. Anth., June 6, 1895. 

 2 The sixth of the series. 



''Abbe Parat, Grotte des Hommes :1 Saint-More. Congress of Friburg. 

 ■*L'Abb(S Parat, June 4, 1897. 

 •' Bull. Soc. Anth., April 1.5-July 18, 1895. 



