46 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



The development of Arcliaeology lias been very similar to that 

 of Geology. Not long ago we should have smiled at the idea of re- 

 constructing the bygone days of our race previous to the beginning 

 of history properly so called. The void was partly filled up by re- 

 presenting that ante-historical antiquity as having been only of short 

 duration, and partly by exaggerating the value and the age of those 

 vague and confused notions which constitute tradition. 



It seems to be with mankind at large as with single individuals. The 

 recollections of our earliest childhood have entirely faded away up to 

 some particular event which had struck us more forcibly, and which 

 alone has left a lasting image amidst the surrounding darkness. 

 Thus, excepting the idea of a deluge which exists among so many 

 nations, and therefore appears to have originated before the emigra- 

 tion of those same nations, the infancy of mankind, at least in 

 Europe, has passed without leaving any reminiscences ; and history 

 fails here entirely, for what is history but the memory of mankind. 



But before the beginning of history there were hfe and indus- 

 try, of which various monuments still exist ; while others lie buried 

 in the soil, much as we find the organic remains of former creations 

 entombed in the strata composing the crust of the globe. The anti- 

 quities enact here a similar part to that of the fossils ; and if Cuvier 

 calls the geologist an antiquarian of a new order, we can reverse 

 that remarkable saying, and consider the antiquarian as a geologist, 

 applying his method to reconstruct the first ages of mankind pre- 

 vious to all recollection, and to work out what may be termed pre- 

 historical history. This is Archaeology pure and proper. But 

 Archaeology cannot be considered as coming to a full stop with the 

 first beginning of history, for the further we go back in our historical 

 researches the more incomplete they become, leaving gaps which the 

 study of material remains helps to fill up. Archaeology, therefore, 

 pursues its course in a parallel line with that of history, and hence- 

 forth the two sciences mutually enlighten each other. But with the 

 progress of history the part taken by Archaeology goes on decreasing, 

 until the invention of printing almost brings to a close the reseai^ches 

 of the antiquarian. 



To pursue geological investigations, we must first examine the 

 present state of our planet, and observe its changes— that is, we must 



