Man and the Glacial PeriodWright, G. Frederick (George Frederick)
History
Man and the Glacial Period
Wright, G. Frederick (George Frederick)
Glacial epoch; Prehistoric peoples
Upon extending inquiries, it was found that the Neanderthal type of
skull is one which still has representatives in all nations; so that it
is unsafe to infer that the individual was a representative of all the
individuals living in his time. The skull of Bruce, the celebrated Scotch
hero, was a close reproduction of the Neanderthal type; while, according
to Quatrefages,[DH] the skull of the Bishop of Toul in the fourth century
"even exaggerates some of the most striking features of the Neanderthal
cranium. The forehead is still more receding, the vault more depressed,
and the head so long that the cephalic index is 69-41." The discovery of
Messrs. Fraipont and Lohest adds much to our definite knowledge of the
Neanderthal type of man, since the Belgic specimens are far more complete
than any others heretofore found, there being in their collection two
skulls, together with the jawbones and most of the other parts of the
frame. In this case also there is no suspicion that the deposits had been
disturbed, so as to admit any intrusion of human relics into the company
of relics of an earlier age. According to M, Lohest, there were three
distinct ossiferous beds, separated by layers of stalagmite. All the
ossiferous beds contained the remains of the mammoth, but in the upper
stratum they were few, and probably intrusive. The implements found in
this were also of a more modern type. In the second stratum from the top
numerous hearths were found with burnt wood and ashes, together with the
bones of the rhinoceros, the horse, the mammoth, the cave-bear, and the
cave-hyena, all of which were abundant, while there were also specimens
of the Irish elk, the reindeer, the bison, the cave-lion, and several
other species. In this layer also there were numerous implements of
ivory, together with ornaments and some faint indications of carving upon
the rib of a mammoth, besides a few fragments of pottery.
[Footnote DH: Human Species, p. 310,]
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