558 THE UNITY OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 



and plum. This bed. says M. Piette, corresponds to the kitchen- 

 middings. 



C. A third bed or layer, about the same thickness as the preceding, 

 contained similar implements and bones. We note, however, the pres- 

 ence of harpoons, perforated and of oval form; and also the numerous 

 colored waterworn pebbles described by M. Piette.^ It was in this layer 

 that he found a portion of a human skeleton, the flesh of which had 

 been removed and the bones reddened with peroxide of iron.^ The 

 strisB or lines on one of the femurs made by flint blades was apparent. 

 The skull and small bones were missing. The long bones were placed 

 in a pile along with the lower jaw. M. Piette is of the opinion that 

 these bones were incontestibly contemporary with the colored pebbles, 

 and that both belonged to the commencement of the ^STeolithic period. 



In the session of the Society of Anthropology, Paris, July 18, 1.^95, 

 our colleague showed several of the human bones gathered in the grotto 

 of Mas d'Azil. The red color remained despite recent washing. 



Such is a resum6 of the communications of M. Piette to the Society 

 of Anthropology.^ Since then he has published still another paper in 

 the same bulletins, wherein he says : " I have met in this formation two 

 skeletons buried after having had the flesh removed and colored red by 

 peroxide of iron." M. Boule found in the same layer a small pile of 

 wheat grain, but which fell todust as soon as touched. If the deposit 

 belonged, as M. Piette thinks, to the beginning of the Neolithic period, . 

 it will be evident that man then knew to sow, cultivate, gather, and 

 jjreserve wheat. 



In 1880 Professor Pigorini, at the Congress at Lisbon, pointed out 

 analogous facts. In a ISTeolithic tomb, quarried in the travertine near 

 Anagni in central Italy, there was found the facial portion of a human 

 skull colored red with cinnabar.^ Two arrow points associated with 

 these remains were similarly colored. The fact that the coloring was 

 limited to these three objects nullifies the idea of its having been done 

 by infiltration, and establishes the fact that it was due to a voluntary 

 act of man.'' 



A short time after this M. de Eossi discovered the sepulcher of 

 Sgurgola^ and M. Incoronato described the skeleton which was brought 

 to light. The frontal portion of the skull and upper jaw were painted 

 a deep red, due to cinnabar.^ 



1 L'Anthropologie, 1896, page 385. 



2 The peroxide of iron associated with manganese was found in a deposit farther 

 up the river. 



■■'Bui., 1895, page 280. Bui., 1896, page 386. 



^Atti della E. Acad, dei Lincei, 3e s^rie, t. IV, page 187. Bol. Paleoth. Ital., 8^ 

 annee, page 48. Mat6riaux, 1880, page 574. 



'^This skeleton, with the objects colored as described, is placed in its tomb restored 

 to its original condition, and installed in the Kercheriano Museum, Rome, of which 

 Professor Pigoriui is director. — T. W, 



^Near Rome. 



' Rev. d'Anthropologie, 1889, page 606. 



