LECTURE IX. 



259 



The grotto was subsequently, under Lartet's supervision, ex- 

 plored layer by layer, and yielded tlie following results : — 



In front of tlie grotto the inequalities of tlie rock had, by 

 slabs of sandstone, been transformed into a kind of hearth. 



Fig. 85. Section of the Grotto of Atu'ignac. 



1. The inner vault. 2. The rabbit-buiTOW which led to the discoveryof 

 the grotto. 3. Human bones. 4. Rubbish, with bones and implements in- 

 side the grotto. 5. Eubbish outside the grotto. 6. Deposit of ciaders. 7. 

 Eock. 8. Talus of gravel, which concealed the slab of sandstone, 10, 

 Placed vertically against the entrance. 9. Slope of the hiU covered with 

 gravel. 



upon which was a layer of ashes and charcoal, about fifteen 

 to twenty centimeters thick. 



The sandstone slabs, which formed this rude hearth, showed 

 here and there the efiect of the fire. The layer of charcoal 

 thinned off towards the grotto, and did not actually reach it. 

 In this layer were found many teeth of herbivora, and hun- 

 dreds of fragments of bones, some of which were carbonised, 

 while the greater part were manifestly broken and gnawed by 

 large carnivorous beasts. As also coprohtes of hytenas were 

 met with in the same layer, Lartet concludes that the long 

 bones had been broken by man for the sake of the marrow, 

 and that the remains of his repast were taken advantage of by 

 hya3nas. This conclusion is supported by the discovery in the 

 layer of ashes and charcoal of about 100 flint knives with which 

 the incisions upon the bones were made. These flint knives 

 were probably manufactured on the spot, as in the neighbour- 

 hood of the hearth were found the nuclei of some blocks from 



s 2 



