84 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



this range of time lie confined his observations. The period has 

 been divided into four epochs, namely, (1) the Palaeolithic or First 

 Stone-age ; (2) the Neolithic or Second Stone-age ; (3) the Bronze- 

 age j and (4) the Iron-age ; so we cannot do better than consider 

 their distinctive characters seriatim. 



The Palaeolithic age is the most ancient period in which we have 

 any proofs of the existence of man, although there are faint indica- 

 tions of his presence in still earlier times. The antiquities belonging 

 to this epoch are those which, occurring in beds of gravel and 

 loess, as well as in caves, associated with the remains of extinct 

 animals, have received so much attention from geologists and 

 antiquaries during the last few years. The climate of Western 

 Europe during this period was much colder than it is now, and 

 the inhabitants used rude implements of stone (flint chiefly), which 

 were not polished, and some types of which differ remarkably from 

 any of those of later date ; they were ignorant of pottery and of 

 metals, as also are many races of savages at the present day. 



During the Neolithic age in Europe polished stone axes and 

 hand-made pottery were extensively used, long before the discovery 

 or introduction of metals. To this period belong the Danish 

 kjokkenmoddings, many of the Swiss lake-dwellings, and several of 

 the tumuli or burial-mounds ; but the objects referable to it do 

 not occur in river-gravels. Domestic animals were reared, and 

 agricultural pursuits were followed by the Neolithic people, who 

 belonged, apparently, to at least two distinct races, as in the 

 tumuli two forms of skull have been found — one long and the other 

 round. 



Implements of stone remained in use during the Bronze age, 

 and those of bronze were chiefly copies of the former ; the pottery 

 was much better than that of the Neolithic age ; and although much 

 of it was still hand-made, some is said to show marks of the potter's 

 wheel. Gold, amber, and glass were used for ornamental purposes ; 

 but silver, zinc, lead, and iron were apparently unknown, as well as 

 coins and writing. 



During the Iron age the metal which gives its name to the 

 period was first used for weapons and cutting instruments, and here, 

 Sir John Lubbock remarks, "we emerge into the broad and, in 

 many respects, delusive glare of history." With the exception of 

 the use of iron, the differences between the implements of this 

 period and those of the Bronze age are mostly relative ; e. g. " the 

 objects which accompany bronze weapons are much more archaic 

 than those which are found with weapons of iron." This fact, and 

 u the frequent occurrence of iron blades with bronze handles, and 

 the entire absence of the reverse," are sufficient to show that the 

 use of iron must have succeeded and replaced that of bronze. 

 Another fact of interest is, that the bronze associated with iron 



