PALAEOLITHIC MAN. 
97 
The past few years have witnessed the appearance of quite a 
library of books dealing with Pre -historic Man, but we give 
the credit to Professor R. A. S. Macalister* for having produced 
the most fascinating and clearly written volume on the subject, 
which is sound scientifically and full of appropriate humour ; 
a rare feature in works of this sort. 
Prof. Macalister, by means of his various lectures on Pre- 
historic Man given to the University College, Dublin, and by 
a careful search through the voluminous literature, has now 
presented a well-reasoned review of the various evidences of 
earliest man, which is particularly pleasing to the present 
writer, as, probably quite unwittingly, the Professor backs up 
various criticisms which have appeared in this journal relating 
to several remarkable * discoveries.’ 
Just now there is quite a revival in interest relating to 
early man, due to numerous finds, actual and assumed, which 
are being made, and at the forthcoming meeting of the British 
Association at Hull, at least two important discussions are to 
take place ; one on the relationship of various human remains 
to phases of the Ice Age in Britain, and another on the remark- 
able primitive skull recently found in Rhodesia. In view of 
these discussions we propose to refer to some of the conclusions 
arrived at by Professor Macalister, and hope that those 
intending to be present at the Hull meeting will take an 
opportunity of studying his ‘ Text -book of European Archae- 
oiogy • ’ 
The author begins by a chapter on geology, a knowledge 
of which is absolutely essential to anyone dealing with pre- 
historic remains ; yet a science too often neglected by our 
* authorities ’ on ‘ prehistory.’ 
Of the now notorious ‘ rostro-carinates ’ described by Sir 
E. Ray Lankester to the Royal Society, it is stated * Now we 
learn the astonishing fact that more or less contemporary 
with the Kentian ” Pliocene Man,” who was chipping his 
trumpery scrapers, there was living in the neighbourhood of 
the site of Ipswich a being who had attained to the art of making 
tools of a considerable degree of complexity. These are the 
so-called eagle-beak or vostro -carinate flints. Quite a luxuri- 
ant crop of literature has sprung into existence about these 
flints, during the few years that have elapsed since they were 
first published. To this type of flint, or to the supposed 
industry which it represents, has been given the name Icenian — • 
not a pedantically scientific term, as it is derived from the 
name of Celtic tribe which inhabited the district some hundreds 
* A Text -book of European Archaeology. Vol. I. — The Palaeolithic 
Period. Cambridge University Press, 610 pp., 50s. net. 
1922 Mar. 1 
G 
