The Discovery of Metals--Various Reasons suggested for explaining the origin of Bronze in the West--The Invention of Bronze--A Foundry during the Bronze Epoch--Permanent and Itinerant Foundries existing during the Bronze Epoch--Did the Knowledge of Metals take its Rise in Europe owing to the Progress of Civilisation, or was it a Foreign Importation? 205 CHAPTER II. The Sources of Information at our Disposal for reconstructing the History of the Bronze Epoch--The Lacustrine Settlements of Switzerland--Enumeration and Classification of them--Their Mode of Construction--Workmanship and Position of the Piles--Shape and Size of the Huts--Population--Instruments of Stone, Bone, and Stag's Horn--Pottery--Clothing--Food--_Fauna_--Domestic Animals 215 CHAPTER III. Lacustrine Habitations of Upper Italy, Bavaria, Carinthia and Carniola, Pomerania, France, and England--The _Crannoges_ of Ireland 227 CHAPTER IV. Palustrine Habitations or Marsh-Villages--Surveys made by MM. Strobel and Pigorini of the _Terramares_ of Tuscany--The _Terramares_ of Brazil 232 CHAPTER V. Weapons, Instruments, and Utensils contained in the various Lacustrine Settlements in Europe, enabling us to become acquainted with the Manners and Customs of Man during the Bronze Epoch 240 CHAPTER VI. Industrial Skill and Agriculture during the Bronze Epoch--The Invention of Glass--Invention of Weaving 258 CHAPTER VII. The Art of War during the Bronze Epoch--Swords, Spears and Daggers--The Bronze Epoch in Scandinavia, in the British Isles, France, Switzerland and Italy--Did the Man of the Bronze Epoch entertain any religious or superstitious Belief? 271 CHAPTER VIII. Mode of Interment and Burial-places of the Bronze Epoch-- Characteristics of the Human Race during the same Period 284 II. THE IRON EPOCH. CHAPTER I. Essential Characteristics of the Iron Epoch--Preparation of Iron in Pre-historic Times--Discovery of Silver and Lead--Earthenware made on the Potter's Wheel--Invention of Coined Money 297 CHAPTER II. Weapons--Tools, Instruments, Utensils, and Pottery--The Tombs of Hallstadt and the Plateau of La Somma--The Lake-Settlements of Switzerland--Human Sacrifices--Type of Man during the Iron Epoch--Commencement of the Historic Era 312 PRIMITIVE MAN IN AMERICA 333 CONCLUSION 343 LIST OF PLATES. FIG. PAGE A Family of the Stone Age (Frontispiece).