'THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
310 
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f cZ. A layer similar in every respect to c. 
except that it is more indurated. It was 
three inches in thickness, and contained 
the greater portion of the organic remains 
which were found in this part of the cave. 
If forms a sharp line of demarcation 
between c. and e. It contained two broken 
hippo molars, and several rolled fragments 
of hippo bones; besides numerous rolled 
portions of antlers, teeth, and limb-bones 
of cervus. It was from this layer that the 
L human bone was obtained. 
( e. A layer of yellowish white clay, one foot 
six inches in thickness. With the ex- 
ception of the rolled organic remains it 
had nothing in common with the superin- 
i eumbent deposits. The remains were 
found only in the upper part. 
/. An osseous stalagmitic layer eight inches 
in thickness, and containing a great quan- 
- tity of teeth, tusks, and bones of hippo. 
All of the layers exhibited distinct traces of 
stratification; and all of the organic remains ap- 
peared as though they had been subjected to a 
considerable amount of illusage before being de- 
posited. The intermixture of the remains of the 
two epochs in layers cl and e , their rolled condition, 
and the isolation of the molars and splintered 
condition of the bones seem to indicate that the 
remains found in these layers had been transported 
from one part of the cave to the other by flood 
waters. In this same trench was found an isolated 
metatarsal of a species of canis equalling a wolf in 
size. 
These facts will assist in explaining the 
occurrence and isolation of so small a bone as the 
metacarpal of a human being. 
The layer in which it was found is at an 
horizon equivalent to that of layer cl in trench 
VI. 
Such then are the evidences bearing on the 
prehistoric anthropology of the islands which these 
excavations have supplied us with, evidences 
which I venture to think wall be admitted as 
having added one more arch to the bridge with 
which the geologist and the archaelogist in these 
islands are endeavouring to span the gulf that at 
present divides their labours. 
It will be observed that all of these rude mani- 
festations of the presence of primitive man have 
been found to occur at about the same horizon 
and in the upper division of the deposits. The 
remains of hippo, that were discovered at or above 
this horizon were always fragmentary, and afforded 
every evidence of having been derived from the 
underlying beds by the disturbing influence of the 
waters that formerly flooded the cave, and laid 
down the deposits. Besides which, the different 
states of mineralization in which the hippo the 
bear, and the elephant remains, and those of the 
various species of deer, horse, etc are found, clearly 
indicate that the two divisions belong to two 
distinct epochs each of which was characterized by 
a different fauna, and by different climatal con- 
ditions. 
It was to the later of these two epochs that the 
man belonged who left the remains of his pottery, 
his fire, his implement, and his skeleton in the 
Har Dalam cavern. 
Of the question then, as to whether man occu- 
pied the islands contemporaneously with the hip- 
po and the elephant, we still know nothing. 
But it might be asked what age should be as- 
signed to the deposits in which these evidences of 
mans existence have occurred 1 To this question it 
is not possible, at present, to give a definite answer. 
When however, we consider the account which 
Diodorus Siculus gives of the comparatively high 
state of civilization of the island’, inhabitants at 
even so remote an epoch as 1500 B.C., to 750 B.C. 
in which he informs us that “ Malta is furnished 
with many and very good harbours, and the inha- 
bitants are very rich, for it is full of all sorts of 
artificers, among whom there are excellent weavers 
of fine linen. Their houses are very stately and 
beautiful, adorned with graceful eaves, and covered 
with white plaster. The inhabitants are a colony 
of Phoenicians. ” (1) 
It seems hardly probable that materials so rude, 
or tools so primitive as those found at Har Dalam 
had their origin at that period. 
The discovery of these evidences derives further 
value too from the geologic horizon at which they 
were found, and the fauna with which they were 
associated. 
(1) Diodorus Lib , VI. 
