1876. | Traces of an American Autochthon. 338 
claim high antiquity. . . .. Thus, in Nacoochee, while the 
neolithic age is richly represented, the palæolithic period is not 
entirely wanting in its characteristic types.’ 
The above well describes what obtains in the valley of the 
Delaware, except that the palolithic period is quite well repre- 
sented, and without so abrupt a break between that and the neo- 
lithic age. 
Having, I trust, made the reader sufficiently familiar with the- 
more prominent characteristics of these rude implements, as 
compared with the common forms of Indian relics, I propose 
now to determine, if possible, something concerning their origin ; 
and to suggest to what race these paleolithic folk belonged. 
If it is true that the relics of preoceupying races, now scattered 
over the State, are traces of two distinct peoples, it is obvious 
that either the older occupants of the territory passed away be- 
fore the advent of the Indian, or they were driven from the 
country by the latter race. Had the paleolithic folk disappeared 
from the valley of the Delaware at some time long prior to the 
advent of the Indian, there would have been a break in the - 
series of stone implements now found, and no commingling what- 
ever, for a people once established would totally disappear only 
in consequence of geological changes occurring; and such would 
sufficiently alter the surface of the country to embed the relics 
in strata at some distance beneath the soil. Marked changes in 
the contour of the territory here considered have certainly taken 
Place since the first appearance of man in eastern North America, 
ut these changes have been so gentle as not to destroy the habit- 
ability of the country, and we therefore find the traces of that 
earlier people not only in the underlying gravels, but in the soil 
above, proving, I think, that paleolithic man did not disappear at 
à point in time anterior to the Indian’s first appearance. It 
must be remembered, too, that the Indians claim to have been a 
usurping people ; to have found, on their arrival, a preoccupy- | 
mg people, whom they dispossessed of their lands. If such is 
€ case, — and do not the deeply buried rude relics here described 
authenticate their statements ? — then two questions naturally 
arise in one’s mind: Who were these ancient people? Where 
are they now ? 
It is scarcely probable that a race driven from their homes in 
the valley of the Delaware should have entirely left the country. 
They could not have crossed the ocean; and we look at the 
neighboring peoples to find the descendants of this displaced 
