437 
Prof. Mantovani — Is Man Tertiary ? 
objects just described, some beautiful vessels of perfect work, re- 
sembling those of the ancient Etruscans. There kave also been 
occasionally found liatchets perfectly polished, ruade of a kind of 
stoue (a Jadeite) tliat is not found in Italy. From what region were 
these objects derived? My opinion is tbat a foreign and more civi- 
lized people was in coinraunication witb the native inhabitants of 
Italy during this period, and tbat a kind of commerce was probably 
established, and tbat in process of time tbis people (certainly a more 
advanced and civilized race) became tbe invaders, and tbat tbe 
primitive population of Italy, being less civilized, disappeared 
entirely. 
Upon such an liypotkesis the presence of metals mixed witb tbese 
flint implements and tbis rüde pottery may easily be explained. 
For it cannot be supposed that a race of men who bad attained to 
the art of separating metals from their ores by smelting, skould yet 
continue to manufacture flint-weapons, and to use them in preference 
to those of bronze or iron. 
I prefer ratker to adopt tbe conclusion tbat tbe introduction of 
metals is good evidence of tbe presence of a more civilized foreign 
people, wbo at first were in occasional communication with the pre- 
existing population for purposes of trade, and in later times occupied 
the country. It is necessary to observe tbat tbe metallic objects 
met witb consist for tbe most part of spears and batcbets carefully 
cast in bronze, wbicb, althougk an easily fusible material, proves that 
the people wbo worked in it were well instructed in the use of tbe 
ores of copper and tin. We do not find any trace of iron, tbe use 
of wbicb is certainly referable to a posterior age, owing no doubt to 
tbe greater difficulty attending tbe treatment of tbis metal. 
I believe tbat prior to the introduction of bronze, some metals 
more easily fusible were employed, and 1 remember to bave once 
examined a leaden spear-head of rougk workmansbip, but wbicb 
bad evidently been fused and moulded. This object was found in 
a bed of Quaternary gravel. But tbis single fact is scarcely suffi- 
cient by itself to establisb tbat lead was the first metal employed by 
man, although tbe instance above cited seems deserving to be placed 
on record. 
From tbe facts stated it seems to me tbat tbe existence of a 
transition period between tbe Palmolitbic or Archasolithic and tbe 
Neolithic ages (wbicb I would propose to name tbe Miolithic period) 
is admissible, and it would be of great importance to learn wketker 
tbe researckes carried on in otker countries give tbe same results as 
those wbich bave been obtained kere. 
Certainly in Central Italy tbis transition period is distinctly 
indicated, and marks a very clear epoch in tbe primitive kistory of 
human civilization. 
Admitting then tbis new period wbicb I bave proposed, and 
taking the Arcbaeolitbic or Palaeolitbic period as a point of departure, 
to tbis would succeed tbe Miolithic, and I conceive tbat during tbis 
middle period the primitive inhabitants of Central Italy were divided 
into two different populations, wbicb were probably represented by 
