34 Prehistoric Races. 



ages, is subdivided into various geological forma- 

 tions, of which the earliest is called eocene, and 

 the latest pliocene. Thus, then, we are to under- 

 stand terms: when we speak of alluvial or recent, 

 and of diluvial or post-pliocene, we are in quatern- 

 ary times; when we go back farther, crossing the 

 glacial epoch, we come to tertiary times, with its 

 various formations, the latest pliocene, the earliest 

 eocene. And if we hear, therefore, as we shall 

 soon, of a tertiary man, eocene or pliocene, we mean 

 one of whom traces are found in the corresponding 

 geological formations. While farther back still, if 

 an ancestor of ours existed in the ages of the sec- 

 ondary or primary formations, he would be called 

 by a corresponding designation. There is no ques- 

 tion of such a being. 



32. The results of all the archaeology brought to 

 bear upon prehistoric humanity is to discredit the 



idea that the human being then w T as of a 

 Archeology, different species from the human being 



now. The diluvial man's relative de- 

 gree of civilization marks no specific difference be- 

 tween him and ourselves. We might as well think 

 of classifying the Asiatic mountaineer of to-day 

 among things and men prehistoric. For the dwell- 

 ers on Mount Roraima are just now described as 

 persisting in the manufacture of stone implements; 

 at a time, too, when every possible advance in art 

 and industry is being made elsewhere, with the 

 help of steam, electricity and all manners of invert 



