The art of plaiting was known to Drift Man. This is shown by the ornaments on weapons and implements, the plaiting-needle from the find at the source of the Schussen, and the hurdlework represented on the message-stick mentioned above, which may be either a hurdle made of boughs and branches or a summer dwelling house. To these acquirements, based chiefly on an acquaintance with serviceable weapons and implements, is added the art of representing natural objects by drawing and carving. This results in the attempt to retain historical _momenta_ in the form of abridged illustrations for the purpose of communicating them to others--incipient picture-writing. The tally shows the method of representing numbers--generally only one stroke each, but also two strokes connected by a line to form a higher unit. Of the art of building not a trace is left to us apart from the laying together of rough stones for fireplaces; nor have tombs of that period of ancient times been discovered. [Illustration: Mercier EARLY AGRICULTURISTS, WITH IMPLEMENTS OF BONE, STONE, AND BRONZE From the painting by Ferdinand Cormon. ] The civilisation of Drift Man and his whole manner of life do not confront the present human race as something strange, but fit perfectly into the picture exhibited by mankind at the present day. Drift Man nowhere steps out of this frame. If a European traveller were nowadays to come upon a body of Drift men on the borders of eternal ice, towards the north or south pole of our globe, nothing would appear extraordinary and without analogy to him; indeed it would be possible for him to come to an understanding with them by means of picture-writing, and to do business with them by means of the tally. [Illustration: Mercier AN EMIGRATION OF THE GAULS IN THE BRONZE AGE From the painting by Ferdinand Cormon. ]