Haynes.] 
382 
February 1, 
The following papers were read : 
SOME INDICATIONS OF AN EARLY RACE OF MEN IN 
NEW ENGLAND. 
BY HENKY W. HAYNES. 
The exhaustive discussion by this Society on Jan. 19, 1881, of 
the subject of “The Palaeolithic Implements of the Valley of the 
Delaware,” and the numerous specimens exhibited here at that 
time to illustrate them, warrant the belief that the members of 
this Society are sufficiently familiar with the appearance of palae- 
olithic implements, and especially with the form and shape of the 
so-called “ axes of the type of St. Acheul,” to render any descrip- 
tion of them needless. Hitherto the St. Acheul type has been 
commonly regarded as the oldest form of stone implement known 
to archaeology ; and from it has been traced a gradual develop- 
ment and perfecting of them, which culminated in the “ polished 
stone celt.” 
What I have now to bring before you are my reasons for 
believing that this St. Acheul axe is not the oldest, or most prim- 
itive type remaining of stone implements, that man has used. I 
think I have established the existence of far ruder and simpler 
types, which represent, I believe, man’s first essay at providing 
himself with any kind of a tool. These objects may accordingly 
be regarded as relics of “ primitive man,” i. e. of man in the earliest 
stages of his development. Whether or not they are the actual 
handiwork of the primeval race itself, I know not ; but I can see 
no reason a priori opposed to the supposition that the human race 
may have made its first appearance on the earth upon this con- 
tinent. The oldest rocks are found here in the Laurentian system, 
whether they are to be regarded as fossiliferous or not. The 
world-renowned discoveries, made by American geologists upon 
the ancient shores of the vast lake-basins that once occupied 
our great central plateau, have shed a flood of light upon the 
succession and development of animal forms during the Eocene 
and Miocene periods. Why may we not then reasonably expect 
to find the earliest traces of man here upon this western con- 
