The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished RacesAllen, Emory Adams
History
The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished Races
Allen, Emory Adams
Archaeology; Indians; Prehistoric peoples
As an article of adornment, amber was highly prized, not only by
the people of Europe during the Bronze Age, but also by the
people of the preceding Neolithic Age. This caused a trade to
spring up which certainly did its share in enlightening the
people. The main supply must have been obtained from the shores
of the Baltic. That the trade was of importance is evidenced by
the fact that amber has been found scattered over Europe in the
tombs of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
We have given a passing glance at the religion of each age we
have examined. It must be confessed that great uncertainty hangs
over the results. From a close examination of their industries,
we can gather considerable as to the home life and general
enlightenment of prehistoric times. A knowledge of religious
belief is gathered mainly from a study of their burial customs.
This is a very important part of our investigation, because a
religious belief is one of the exponents of the culture of a
people.
We have seen that in the Neolithic Age the dead were buried
surrounded by implements, weapons, and ornaments for use in the
future life. The descendants of these people throughout Europe,
even in the Bronze Age, would still continue this custom. The
implements buried with the body were more often of stone than
bronze. We must constantly bear in mind that bronze was costly.
This will explain its absence in many cases. It is interesting to
note in this connection that these are “cases in which it is
evident that flint implements were deposited in graves rather in
deference to ancient customs than because they were still in
every-day use.”21 We also notice that during this age, often the
objects placed in the graves were, from their shape, obviously
not intended for daily use. This would clearly indicate that the
popular mind became impressed with the fact that these votive
offerings, however freely given, could be of no assistance to the
departed, but they still continued the custom because it was
sanctioned by usage of past years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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