QUATERNARY 



677 



the Glacial Period, at which time reindeer were crossing Europe in 

 great numbers; and their remains often occur with those of man, 

 giving it the name of " Reindeer stage." 



We are assisted in our conception of Paleolithic man by a study of 

 the recently extinct aborigines of Tasmania, who were, though recent, a 



Fig. 583. — Skulls of modern and older Paleolithic man. The contrast in forehead, 

 brow, teeth, chin, and shape of skull is very marked. 



true Paleolithic, or perhaps a degenerate race. Their clothing con- 

 sisted of skins thrown over the shoulders, and they protected them- 

 selves from the rain by daubing themselves with grease and ocher. 

 They had no fixed place of abode ; and even in winter, a screen of bark 

 served as a shelter. Their implements were few and simple, and were 

 made of wood and stone, the latter being fashioned by striking off" 

 chips from one flake with another. Cooking by boiling was unknown ; 

 and their sea food consisted of shellfish, as they knew nothing of fishing 

 with a hook. Their survival until 

 the present was due to their iso- 

 lated position. 



The skulls and skeletons of the 

 older Paleolithic men of Europe FlG - 584— Thigh bone of modern 

 111 c man (shaded), and of older Paleolithic 



show that they were savages of man (outline)> 



the lowest type (Figs. 583 B, 584), 



with low foreheads and rather large though not highly organized 

 brains. They were small in stature (five feet, three inches in 

 average height), with knees that were bent slightly forward, giving 

 them a carriage that was not fully erect. 



Their skill as hunters is shown by the great quantities of bones of 

 animals about their ancient camps ; the environs of one such camp 



