New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-07
A FOSSIL MAN.

DISCOVERY OF A PALEOLITHIC SKELETON.
RESEARCHES IN THE CAvERNs OF MENToNE AND
THEIR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE SKELETON
THE PROBABLE PERIOD OF HIS LIFE.
(FRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
PARIS, March 31.-In July, 1871, Mons. Emile
Rivere directed by the French Minister of Public
Instruction TO examine the eaverns at Mentone Italy
In the interests Of archaeology. While prosecuting this
work in March, 1877, prehistoric human skeleton was
found and pamphlet, descriptive Of the same and OF
the researches prior its discovery has been placed In
my hands. 1t ia entitled, Dteourerte dun Squeetk
Human de LEpoque Paltoique. dams les DIES
Bao,tsst Rousst. dites Grotes de Aenton, par Emile
Rirtre, Officer DAcadtnie etc. Parts 1879 purpose
giving brief account Of this discovery for the informa
ton of those interested in prehistoric studies.
Nine at Mentone have been explored, and all
have furnished interesting antiquities They are stu-
ated In the province of PortoMaurzlo, and the Com
OF ventmiga, along the shore OF the Mediterra.
Sea- about IS feet above its level Two Of the nine
have been discovered recently Those numbered two,
six and eight rather rock shelters than caverDs.
All are situated the same plane, and are formed by
natural riffs In the mountain OF ROches Rouges, or
Red Rocks, over which the Corniche road passes. A
plateau TO $50 feet in width extends from the caverns
to the seashore and Is raversed by the ancient Roman
Via Aurea.
RESEARCHES IN THE CAvBRHs
The caverns have been frequently examined. and
much interest has attached to the discoveries made. As
early s45 Mons. Grand OF Lyons gathered quantity
OF cut ints. several fragments OF hematite, and some
sulphuret OF anthony. He concluded that the cut ns
rudimentary coarse and belonged TO the earliest
period OF art In 1853, Mons Forel of switzerland found
more 1ints, and numerous bones belonging TO animals
OF living species also assigned to the print
tive Later, Mons Gcny aud DR.. Pere renewed the
Investigations collecting cut nts shells, bones teeth,
and implements of stone, well few articles OF
pottery. All indicated for the grottoes OF
Mentone two epochs-the paeo;hic. or that
OF cut stone, and the neOlithic, more recent.
the age of polished stone. The excavations
made were, however slight depth, and IL not I'M
Ill the construction of the railroad from Genoa to Men,
tone the route of which passed in front OF some OF the
caverns that sufficient earth removed to disclose
any fossil human remains The trench for the railway
in front OF the third and G feet below its present
level has exposed layer Is TO 10 inches thick, COM
posed OF bones of which charred OF teeth, OF
ans and traces Of charcoal, indicating the site Of an
ancient hearth. Similarly in front OF the seventh cav
As feet below the surface two moar teeth belonging
to the rhinoceros tishorhinus found; also some
bones from the stag broken by man. The ninth cavern
has shown OF human occupation but has fur
nished bones Of fauna embracing nine carnivores,
two pachyderms four ruminauts, three rodents,
two birds. The seventh and eighth have
not been thoroughly examined. From the sixth
number OF flint instruments. pins and arrows OF bone,
a canine tooth Of the bear and some coprotes OF
the cave hyena, have been gathered The fifth cavern
is the deepest of ALL measuring 81 feet II is Il feet
broad its entrance contracts rapidly to eight feet and
enlarges to form second chamber. 1t covered
with stalacttes and stalagmes, and its soil, COM
posed of black earth and broken stone contains num-
Der of flint points, lances scrapers and CHIPS
showing that flint instruments had been made in the
cave, On the other hand, only two bone implements
were found while the debris OF teeth and bone existed
in great quantity. The fauna OF this cavern is composed
Of the cave hyena, fox horse wild boar primitive OK,
common stag, roe-buck, primitive goat, rabbit and a
few mollusks,