The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-12-01
WHOLE No. 118.
FLINT 1nPLEMHSrs ,or ANTIQUITY.

FLINT IMPLEMENTs soF ANTIQUITY.
In; the course of an articles in
Chambers journal OH "Oar Earliest
Ancestors" the writer says:
g. The favorite weapon of the pal
eontologists is undoubtedly the fiin4
hatchet, which he waves in unceasing
triumph in the face of the general
reader. These hatchets and flint
knives-found in vast numbers i'll
these ancient burial places-do not, it
must be confessed, at first sight much
resemble hatchets and knives; indeed
it was contended that one Of these
old world emporiums was nothing
more than rubbish heap on spot
where there had been manufactory
of f1ints for guns; but it is certain
that they were the substitute for weap-
ons and instruments before metals
were discovered. To the arguments
that such Implements could never have
been produced without metallic ham,
mers, Mr.. Evans, an English geologist
offered curious and convincing refu-
tation. He took pebble and fixed it
in wooden handle; having thus
manufactured stone hammer, he
made use of it to chip flint, little by
lite, until he succeeded in producing
an oval hatchet similar to the ancient
one before him. His scientific oppo-
nents were convinced, and obliged to
content themselves with the sarcasm
that this gentleman was born after his
time. ttE7 sl.l
Even more remarkable than the
ancient caverns are the rock shelters
which have been identified as the
dwelling places of primitive man. In
various parts Of France many speci-
mems of these early settlements-one
can scarcely call them retreats-have
been discovered mere sheltering pla-
ces under some over hanging rock.
Sheds, perhaps, were built there, all
traces of which have long since per-
ished, but man has left more enduring
traces of his presence. On the left
hand of the river AveyoD, for instance
under the overhanging brows of the
rocks of Bruniquel, was discovered a
fire hearth of the prehistoric period,
as we'll as host of objects, the study
of which has furnished many data
concerning this ephoc of humanity.
The area covered by this shelter is
two hundred and ninety-eight square
yards. The bones of the horse-though
these are comparatively rare-of the
OK, of the urns, the elk, The ibex and
chamois are found there, all showing
signs of the action of fire. Many
pounds weight of the half-roasted
bones of the water-rat, proved that
taat now despised delicacy formed q
feature in the primitive menu. Fish
bones are found in great quantities !;
and even skeletons OF fish. rudely
traced upon fragments OF bone and
horn. Reindeer's horn was, in that
stage of mans existence, ali that iron
is to us. Their arms, their implements
and their ornaments, were all made of
this substance, their favorite dainty
was the marrow of the long bones,
which they extracted by fracture, with
spoons. We are sorry to say that
these ancestors of ours labor under
the suspicious of cannibalism. On
certain children's bones of these
epochs found in Scotland, Prof. Owen
has recognized the trace of human
teeth human finger joints have been
detected among The remains of cook
ing in the epochs of the great bear
and mammoth, and also in Qater) that
of the reindeer. Not trace of dogs
having gnawed any relics of feast
Of this epoch has been discovered; !;
hence it is declcred that these animals
had not yet been reduced to state of
domesticity., It is also proved that
these men wore clothes. A large
number of reindeer antlers have been
found with certain cuts at their base,
which evidently could not have been
produced in fiaying the animal. Nay,
these dandies were not content with
the mere skins; flint scrapers are ev.
cry where to be met with, which they
used in scraping the hair off and bod
kins and stelletoes made of flint and
bone exactly the same as are now
used by The Esquimaux-for sewing
the different pieces together. Certain
reindeer bones also give evidence that
the sinewy fibers of that animal were
used for thread. No metal, however,
was yet known; besides, the hatcbet
and the flint knife were the only
weapons. The ornaments were made
out of the tooth of a wolf or the bony
part of hare's ear. In some places
were great emporiums or manufacto-
rles OF hint weapons. In the cave OF
Cbaleux were found nearly twenty
thousand hints, Clipped into hatch
cts, daggers, scrapers, stretchers,
knives and spear-heads. Whistles
have also been found made from the
first joint of the foot of the reindeer.
tWe, ourselves says Monsieur Fig
uer, have had the pleasure of veri-
flying the fact that these primitive
whistles act very well.' Perhaps the
last person that blew into ithad eaten
mastedon, FOR his own mother, ten
thousand years ago. He had certainly
eaten dog. Bones of this animal, bro.
ken by the hand of man, and bearing
marks Of having been cut with a
knife, place that fact beyond question.
.