Europe.

Illustration of Bone Implements--Cresswell Crags.-----------

In the valley of the river Meuse (Belgium), and its tributaries, have
been found a number of caves and rock-shelters. It was in the caves of
the Meuse that Schmerling made his explorations. When the real value
of his work was recognized, the Belgian government had a thorough
exploration made by M. Dupont, director of the Royal Museum in Brussels.
This gentleman scientifically examined forty-three of these resorts. His
opinions, therefore, are deserving of great weight; but, unfortunately,
they are not accepted by all. These caves vary greatly in size--many
being mere rock-shelters. From their position, we are at once struck
with the prolonged period of time necessary to explain their formation.
They are found at very different heights along the river's bank. In one
case two caves are so situated that the river must have sunk its bed
nearly two hundred feet between the time of their formation.<9>

M. Dupont thinks the evidence very clearly points to the presence of two
distinct stages in cave life--one of which he calls the Mammoth period,
and the other, which is more recent, the Reindeer. It is, however, known
that the mammoth lived all through the Reindeer epoch, if not to
later times; so the names bestowed on these periods do not seem very
appropriate. We can readily see, however, that, while the names might
be wrong, the two periods might be reality. In many cases, the same cave
contained remains of both stages, separated by layers of cave earth,
and it is noticed that, in such cases, those of the Reindeer stage are
invariably of a later date. In general terms, M. Dupont finds that the
implements of the Mammoth period are of a rude make, consisting of a
poor kind of flint, and poorly finished. But, in beds of the Reindeer
epoch, the flint implements consist, principally, of well-shaped
blades and flakes--with numerous bodkins, or awls--javelins, or
arrow-heads--besides articles of bone and horn such as harpoons, and
teeth of various animals drilled as if suspended for ornaments. Their
workmanship indicates decidedly more skill than that of the implements
obtained from the lower levels. But the most remarkable finds of the
Reindeer epoch consist of portions of reindeer horn, showing etchings
or engravings which have been traced by some sharp point, no doubt by a
flint implement. One small bit of horn has been cut or scraped so as to
present t