The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished RacesAllen, Emory Adams
History
The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished Races
Allen, Emory Adams
Archaeology; Indians; Prehistoric peoples
It may occur to some that if high northern lands be all that is
necessary for a period of cold, we ought to have had it in the
Miocene Age, when there was a continuous land connection between
the lands of high polar areas and both Europe and America, since
we know that an abundant vegetation spread from there, as a
center, to both these countries. But at that epoch circumstances
were different. The great North Temperate lands were in a
“comparatively fragmentary and insular condition.”25 There were
great inland seas in both Europe and Asia, through which powerful
currents would have flowed from the Indian Ocean to Arctic
regions.
Somewhat similar conditions prevailed in North America. The
western part was in an insular condition. A great sea extended
over this part of the country, joining the Arctic probably on the
north, through which heated water would pour into the polar sea.
And so, instead of a Glacial Age, we find evidence of a mild and
genial climate, with an abundant vegetation.
We thus see that there are two theories as to the cause of the
Glacial Age presented for our consideration. Both of them have
received the sanction of scholars eminent for their scientific
attainments. On inspection we see they are not antagonistic
theories. They may both be true for that matter, and all would
admit that whatever effect they would produce singly would be
greatly enhanced if acting together. Indeed, there are very good
reasons for supposing both must have acted in unison.
There seem to be very good reasons for not believing that the
eccentricity of the earth’s orbit, acting alone, produced the
glacial cold. If that were the case, then whenever the
eccentricity was great we should have a Glacial Age. Now, at some
period of time during the long-extended Tertiary Age we are
certain the eccentricity of the earth’s orbit became very great,
much more so, in fact, than that which is supposed to have
produced the cold of the Quaternary Age. But we are equally
certain there was no glacial epoch during this age.26 What other
explanation can we give for its non-appearance except that
geographical conditions were not favorable?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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