330 Traces of an American Autochthon. [June, 
relics. The intermediate specimens above referred to, seven in 
number, are rudely wrought lance-heads (?) and those ridge- 
backed, flat-bottomed implements, known locally as “ turtle- 
backs.” The supposed lance-heads are very similar to the 
European palæolithic forms, and in all respects identical with 
those found nearer the surface, of which the late Professor J. 
Wyman said,! in a notice of a series sent him, “ There are sev- 
eral implements which very closely resemble the celts of the drift 
period of Europe, especially those found at St. Acheul, two or 
three of which, except for their material, could hardly be distin- 
guished from them.” 
My studies of these palæolithic specimens, and of their position 
in the gravel beds and overlying soil, has led me to conclude that 
not long after the close of the last glacial epoch man appeared 
in the valley of the Delaware, and that during his occupancy 
there was a steady but not violent physical change of the gen- 
eral surface of the country, caused by the greatly increased 
volume of the river then nearly filling the present valley ; and 
that at a point in time when the river (Delaware), diminished 
to its present size, occupied its present channel, these palzolithic 
people were driven off by the Indians, who at that time were 
themselves not advanced to the neolithic or polished-stone age 
condition. On examining a series of stone implements gathered 
from some one spot, we find one characteristic, common to all, 
which at once attracts the attention. This is the uniformity of 
the workmanship. As remarked by Professor Geikie, “ The 
weapons and implements belonging to the older or paleolithic 
period are altogether of ruder form and finish. They are merely 
chipped into the requisite shape of adze, hatchet, scraper, or what- 
ever the implement may chance to be. Although considerable 
dexterity is shown in the fashioning of these rude implements, 
yet they certainly evince much less skill on the part of the tool- 
maker than the relics of the newer or neolithic period. It 1s 
somewhat noteworthy also that while the implements of the 
neolithic period are made of various kinds of stones, those of the 
paleolithic period consist almost exclusively of flint ; and so char- 
acteristic are the shape and fashion of the latter that an Pape 
rienced archæologist has no difficulty in recognizing and distm- 
guishing them at once from relics of the neolithic age.” ? 
With the exception of the use of the word “ flint,” the above 
1 Fifth Annual Report of the Peabody Museum of Archeology, page 27- Con 
bridge. 187 
* Great Ice Age, American Edition, page 404. 
Sue eye ee ae eRe pean rs 
