394 THE MOUSTERIAN PERIOD. 



large, among the sand apparently without any connection 

 with the main deposit. When the time of dry heat passed 

 away it was evidently followed by a time of heavy rains which 

 produced streams which ploughed through the splits in the 

 clay, thus finding their way to the sea. Then another dry 

 interval filled the water courses with sand, and there are 

 indications that both the clay and the sand (which is much 

 older than the sand of the dunes) suffered erosion. The 

 detail requires study before it can be read. 



As the evidence of the inter-glacial period is so meagre 

 and indecisive, I shall quote some of the leading authors to 

 enable my readers to fit in the detail I have given. 



Geikie in his "Antiquity of Man," fol. 262, says :— "The 

 climate being somewhat extreme the continental tracks were 

 doubtless subject to dust storms in summer and blizzards in 

 winter. But with the continued retreat of the Alpine snow 

 fields steppe conditions eventually passed away. The 

 climate now steadily became more humid, forests extending 

 in all directions until they covered vast areas. The climate 

 was probably more genial than at present." 



This quotation will suffice to prove that great changes 

 were in progress during the early part of the inter-glacial 

 period, to which the quotation refers. 



Dr. Nils Olof Hoist (Geo. Mag. Vol. II., fol. 504) writes: — 

 " A rapid rise of the land — the Mousterian elevation — intro- 

 duced a great rise (of temperature) . . . none the less 

 (fol. 506) the ice-age persisted right through the Mousterian 

 times ; it was not until after its close that the true post-glacial 

 time began." I have not space enough to increase the 

 quotations, but enough has been said to show that the changes 

 of climate were severe, not only on account of the nearness of 

 the ice in the north but because of the great difference in the 

 temperature of the winters and summers. 



Subsequent erosion has sadly weakened the evidences of 

 the Mousterian occupation in Guernsey, and I know that they 

 are not very convincing to those vvho have not studied the 

 detail step by step. That I think I can lay claim to have 

 done, and I therefore submit to the Society my conclusions 

 with a certain amount of confidence. 



Note : — Since this paper was written it has come to my 

 knowledge that a deposit of peat exists at the top of the 

 Hubits Valley, on the property of Mr. Hilary Manger. 



This gentleman informed me that a few feet below the 

 surface he came on some peat forming a deposit of considerable 



