of animals, remains of birds and fishes, and,
lastly, some wrought flints." The first supposition in regard to those
shell-heaps was that they were of marine formation, accumulated beneath
the sea, and elevated to the surface along with the gradual rise of the
land. But they are now known to be nothing more or less than the sites
of ancient settlements. The location of the rude cabins can still be
traced. The ancient hearths are still in place. "Tribes once existed
here who subsisted on the products of hunting and fishing, and threw out
around their cabins the remains of their meals, consisting especially
of the _debris_ of shell-fish." These heaps gradually accumulated
around their rude dwellings, and now constitute the refuse heaps in
question.<24>

The careful investigation of their contents has failed to disclose any
evidence of a knowledge of agriculture, and the only domestic animal
found is the dog. The implements are altogether of stone and horn. No
trace of metal has yet been obtained. As a rule, they are rudely made
and finished. Though of the Neolithic type, they are not polished except
in a few instances. The principal interest turns on the question of
age of these refuse heaps. Some think they were accumulated at the very
beginning of the Neolithic Age--that these tribes preceded by many years
the men of the Swiss Lakes. Others think they were tribes of the same
great people, living at the same time. On such a point as this, only
those who have carefully studied the deposits are entitled to speak.

Some few facts stand out quite prominently. The size of the mounds<25>
indicate long-continued residence--showing that these people had
permanent places of abode. As they are not confined to Denmark, but
are found generally throughout Europe, it would seem to imply that the
Neolithic people preferred to live as fishers and hunters wherever the
surroundings were such that they could by these means obtain an abundant
supply of food. Some shell-heaps in Scotland were still forming at the
commencement of the Bronze Age; and Mr. Geikie, on geological grounds,
assigns the shell-heaps of Denmark to a late epoch of the Stone Age.

It seems to us quite natural that isolated tribes, living where game
was abundant, and where fishing met with a rich reward, should turn
in disgust from the agricultural life of their brother tribes, and,
resuming the life of mere hunters and fishers, speedily lose somewhat
of their hardly wo