OF MOULIN-QUIGNON. 621 



Conference, late at night ; yet it will be seen, that the fact of 

 finding them to all appearance in situ in an undisturbed 

 position determined the verdict given in conclusion No. 3, 

 that ' the greater part, if not the whole, of the haches from 

 the lower part of the gravel-pit of Moulin-Quignon are 

 authentic' 



The evidence of the eye-witnesses to the finding of the jaw 

 was then taken, and it was so consistent and direct that no 

 flaw was detected, and it satisfied the Conference. 



The operations on the gravel-pit of Moulin-Quignon were 

 hurried through in a single day, and although the results 

 were relied on, it is but right to indicate that with such a 

 number of workmen, dispersed over different parts of the 

 section, and with so many observers, the conditions were not 

 the most favourable for the close and severe scrutiny required 

 in a case of critical observation. 



The Conference had now reached the fifth day of its 

 labours, and it was necessary to come to some conclusion. 

 The English members were compelled, by business engage- 

 ments, to return to London. Assuming the Moulin-Quignon 

 deposit to be of the age assigned to it by Mr. Prestwich, i.e. 

 a ' high-level ' gravel of the oldest Quaternary period in the 

 Valley of the Somme, the intrinsic evidence yielded both by 

 the flint Jiaches and by the jaw was wholly irreconcileable 

 with the direct results arrived at under the eyes of the Con- 

 ference, and with the testimony of witnesses as to the find- 

 ing of the jaw ; but if it was a disturbed or comparatively 

 late deposit, although still embarrassed by formidable diffi- 

 culties, there might be a way to a possible explanation. To 

 have persisted in attributing fraud in the case, without direct 

 evidence, whatever suspicions might be entertained, would 

 have been unwarrantable. The following conclusions were 

 arrived at : the French members and Mr. Prestwich being: 

 unanimous in their assent to all : — 



' 1. La machoire en question n'a pas ete introduite frauduleusement 

 dans la carriere du Moulin-Quignon ; elle existait prealablement dans 

 l'endroit ou M. Boucher de Perthes l'a trouvee le 28ieme mars dernier. 

 Cette conclusion a ete adoptee a l'unanirnite\ 



' 2. Tout tend a faire penser que le depot de cette machoire a ete 

 contemporain de celui des cailloux et autres materiaux qui constituent 

 l'amas argilo-graveleux, designe sous le nom de " Couche Noire," laquelle 

 repose imin^diatement sur la craie. Cette conclusion a ete adoptee par 

 tous les mernbres presents, a l'exception de MM. Falconer et Busk, qui 

 reservent leur opinion jusqu'a plus ample informed 



' 3. Les silex tailles. en forme de haches, qui ont ete presentes a la 

 reunion comme ayant ete trouves vers la meme epoque dans les parties 

 inferieures de la carriere du Moulin-Quignon, sont pour la plupart, si 

 non tous, bien authentiques. 



