Dr J. W. Dawson on the Antiquity of Man. 41 



reasons, it may be well to consider them together. It will 

 be necessary for us in doing this to summarise the numer- 

 ous and varied facts adduced, and the reasonings therefrom, 

 and we shall follow the order employed by Sir C. Lyell, 

 bringing in Dr Wilson's antiquarian lore to our aid as we 

 proceed. 



The great question to be noticed in this review is that of 

 the connection of human with geological history. How far 

 back in that almost boundless antiquity disclosed by the 

 geologist has man extended ? At what precise point of 

 the geological scale was he introduced on the mundane 

 stage ; and wliat his surroundings and condition in his 

 earlier stages ? In answer to these questions, negative 

 geological evidence, and some positive considerations, testify, 

 without a dissenting voice, that man is very modern. All 

 the evidences of his existence have, until the last few years, 

 l)elonged exclusively to the recent or latest period of the 

 geological chronology. Certain late observations would, 

 however, indicate that man may have existed in the latter 

 part of the Post-pliocene period, and may have been con- 

 temporary with some animals now extinct. Still the evi- 

 dences of this, as well as its true significance, are involved 

 in much doubt; partly because many of the facts relied on 

 are open to objection, partly because of the constant acces- 

 sion of new items of information, and partly because the 

 age of the animals whose remains are found with those of 

 man, and the time required by the physical changes in- 

 volved, are not certain. 



To these questions Sir Charles addresses himself, with 

 all his vast knowledge of facts relating to tertiary geology, 

 and his great power of generalisation ; and he has, for the 

 first time, enabled those not in the centre of the discus- 

 sions which have for a few years been carried on upon this 

 subject, to form a definite judgment on the geological evi- 

 dence of the antiquity of our species. 



As a necessary preliminary, Sir Charles inquires as to 

 the recent remains of man, including those which are pre- 

 historic in the sense of antedating secular history, but 

 which do not go back to the period of the extinct mammalia. 

 He refers, in the first place, to the detailed researches of the 



NliW SERIES. VOL. XIX. KO. I. JANUARY 1863. F 



