THE "ages" of archaeology. i8i 



lithic), and of a Newer Stone Age (Neolithic) 

 and of a Bronze Age, and of an Iron Age. 

 Now, there is no proof whatever that such 

 Ages ever existed in the world. It may be 

 true, and it probably is true, that all 

 nations in the progress of the Arts have 

 passed through the stages of using stone 

 for implements before they were acquainted 

 with the use of metals. But knowledge of 

 the metals must have arisen at very different 

 epochs in different regions of the earth. In 

 South Africa flint implements have lately 

 been discovered in abundance, but over a 

 large portion of that vast continent the 

 knowledge and the use of iron seems to have 

 been of very ancient date ; and I am in- 

 formed by Sir Samuel Baker that iron ore is 



