Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-06-05
Development OF HUMAN CIVILI-
ZATION.

Among the subjects that have of late
Years occupied the attention of scientific
observers, says the Philadelphia Ledger,
none have been gilmore generaliIterest than
those relating to the human race during the
period prior to the accepted historical re-
cords of the various notions. The lnvestl-
cation has been largely geological one,
involving considerations Of climate, varying
distribution of land and water, and many
other features, which, though not record
ed in so many words, are yet detailed In the
great book of nature, which he who has
learned the alphabet thereof may read.
The Oldest formations wherein remains of
man certainly occur, are the superficial soil
and the earth of caverns, the former being
known geologically as the quaternary lorna
tion diluvium, alluvium or drift.
The climate of Europe was formerly a
tropical one, abounding in animals now
found there no longer as rhlnoceros, ele-
plants, lions, tigers, hyenas, monkeys, &c
A gradual cooling took place, probably oc-
cupying a vast number of years, and the
greater part of Scandinavia, Great Britain,
the Alps, and the mountain regions Of
Western Europe generally, were covered
with ice. Central Europe was great sea,
as was the desert of Sahara; England and
Il rance were uOilbut Dpdlu duu ANOILH
Africa; and the African elephant could pass
from Tunis by Corsica, to the Pontine
marshes of Italy. After a time, however,
the glaciers receded and 1t is then that
man made his first appearance in Europe,
although occurring in Asia tfr0m geological
evidence) at an earlier period. Three hu-
man skulls represent this date, which was
unuuestionably the period of the mammoth
rhinOceros, cave lion, the hyena and the
cave bear.
These skulls present characteristics of
great animality, especially in the develop
ment of the frontal sinuses, etc. The asso-
ciated implements Of this period are rudely
constructed stone axes and knives; but
there is no trace Of pottery. The use Of fire
was known, however, to the earliest Of man
kind The European climate next appears
to have undergone a change, for the rein
deer becomes very abundant, and repre-
sents what is called the middle stone period
when the art of pottery first makes its ap-
pearance, and burial of bodies seems first to
have been instituted. Bones of animals are
now worked into instruments and imple-
ments In considerable variety, upon which,
as upon slabs Of stone, we find figures of
animals carved, sometimes rudely, some
times with much artistic skill. A single
human figure represents a form with slen-
der limbs and protuberant abdomen, ike the
modern Australians. There is no trace of
fixed dwellings, cultivation Of the soil or
rearing of cattle.
The late stone period is marked by the
so-caled pile dwellings the construction
of huts on piles driven into the soft soil on
the edges of lakes, the remains ofwhich have
recently been fonn1 in such abundance in
Switzerland, and which extend into the So
called historic period Domestic animals
were quite abundant; oxen, pigs, sheep but
not the horse, which lived wild in the rein
deer period. Wheat, fax, lentils, peas, bar
ley, etc, were well known. The age of this
period has been estimated at 5000 TO 1000
years.
Next comes the bronze age, in which the
use of metals was first introduced, and grad
uaily supplanted stone. Here We find a
great variety Of manufactures, and much
really artistic work and ornamentation.
The use of bronze was derived from the
Phenicians, the tin used in its composition
being brought from England. The exist
ence of roasted, broken and gnawed human
bones seems to indicate that man was a can
nibal at that period The age Of bronze,
which, in part, belongs to the domain of
nlSC0ryl passed gradually INTO lnaG OF iron,
a metal so much better adapted to human
needs than any other, With all the sue
cessive epochs just mentioned there was
doubtless progressive Improvements in the
exterior physical conformation of man as
we know took place with the skull, which,
from indicating a rude animality, finally
assumed the form and proportions found in
the cultivated nations of the present day.
Eyan pow Soma tribes are not ramotol, 20
rope in characteristics of the brain and
skull, though none .2 2 exactly Up parallel the
in the beginning Of the present article.