The record-union., 1891-08-10
MAN IN ANCIENT AGES.
Thousands of Years Ago, Before
Egyptian History Began.
How He Lived and Procured Food
Many Thousands of Years Ago-His
First Dwelling Place Undoubtedly
a Cave in the Rocks.

Although hundreds of thousands of
years have certainly elapsed since that
epoch when primeval man occupied West
ern Europe in company with the reindeer
and other animals which have in these
later days retreated to the Arctic, SO
much has been ascertained by science
respecting him that one can actually look
back through the ages and behold this
remote ancestor of the human race as he
lived and pursued his daily avocations.
The great glacial period had come to an
end and the mighty animals with which
his own distant progenitors had been
obliged to contend-the great cave bear,
twice as big as grizzly, the cave lion, the
mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros and the
saber-toothed tiger-were fast becoming
extinct. 1t was still very cold, else what
is now France could not have been occu-
pied by reindeer as plcntifully distrib-
uted as are now sheep in the same re-
gioh, and by the musk OK, the chamolS,
the wild goat and the lemmIng, all OF
which have been driven, by the increas-
ing warmth of subsequent seasons, to the
icy North, or TO the frigid mountain tops.
Not having acquired the art of building,
man IN that time was obliged to make
his home III caVerns, selecting, by prefer
enCe, hole in the rocks with a very mar
row opening, which could only be en-
tered by climbing. Thus he not only OBJ
tanned shelter, but rendered himself Sc
cure against attacks by wild beasts. When
he took up his abode in level and non
mountainous country he was compelled
to construct artificial caves for himself by
gathering stones together, or, for want Of
q tavern, ii an overhanging cliff could be
found he helped out this natural protec-
ton with rocks, and thus made conVe-
nient retreat. Very many Of these an
cient Open-air settlements have been dis
covered, which, from the remains found,
are known to have been occupied by fam
lies, or tribes, the stone tools and other
objects found with them demonstrating
their extreme antiquity. Also some reck-
oning can be formed approximately Of
the number of centuries required for the
deposit of the strata covering up these
relics.
Such retreats were usually situated in
valley near running stream, continues
the Washington star. Like the caverns,
they contain great deposits of bones Of
mammals, birds and fishes, as well as
tools and weapons of bone and stone.
The hearths are also found on which the
primeVal people cooked their food, with
quantities Of ashes from fires that burned
SO many years ago. These heacths were
made from slabs Of very hard rock, such
as sandstone or slate, bedded down sol
idly in the ground. Man during that
epoch had no notion ofagriculture. Hehad
not as vet dOmesticated any animal so as
to profit by its strength, or to insure by
its means 4 constant supply of food.
he was, therefore. 4 hunter, and de-
pended for his SuStenance upon the wild
beasts which he was able to kill with
spears and arrows. The reindeer was the
creature he chiefly depended upon for
to Ia hot r.,f,
to the LaplanderS, the most precious gift
of nature. He fed upon its flesh and
made his garments Of its skin, utilizing
its tCndonS as threads III the preparation
Of his dress, while its bones and antlers
were converted into all kinds Of weap-
onS and implements. Reipdeer's horn
was the earliest raw material employed
. for manufacturing purposes, and to the
human being Of that age it was ali that
iron is to his descendants now.
The horse, the OK, the elk, the ibeX and
the chamOis. all contributed TO the prime
val larder. Skulls and the long bones of
the neWly-killed animals were broken
with hatchets and hammers for the pur-
pose Of extracting the marrow and
brains, which those, who feasted, ate all
Steaming with the natural animal heat.
To such prey certain birds, such as the
grouse and the owl, were added. When
all other game was short they fell back
one cave at ChaleuX more than twenty
pounds weight of the bones of water
rats, half roasted, were dug up.
That fish was used by man at that epoch
as an article Of food has been proved by
the discovery Of numerous remains of
fish bones IN the caves he occupied. On
many of the bone and horn implements
he left behind also are discovered sketches
representing fishes. The most simple
form OF fishing apparatus employed in
that age was a little splinter of bone
from one to two inches in length and
pointed at both ends. This was the
primitive tish-hOok. 1t was fastened to q
line by the middle and covered with bait.
SO that when swallowed it became fixed
inside the body of the prey.
1t is not known whether the men of the
reindeer period practiced cannibalism,
but ii seems probable that they did. HUI
man skulls have been found in Scotland
mixed up with sculptUred flint and chill
dren's bones, and on the latter traces of
human teeth are apparently recognizable.
Elsewhere human joints have been dis
covered among the remains of cooking in
the caves. At that time man had not as
yet dOmeSuc8tCd the dog, IS is shown by
the fact that no trace whatever of bones
gnawed by them have been exhumed in
any of the human settlements referred to.
1t Is known that primeVal man dressed
himself in garments of skins, particularly
those Of the reindeer. Furthermore it is
believed that he knew how 10 prepare
hides by clearing them of their hair with
flint Scrapers Having performed this
process he rendered tho skins supple by
rubbing them with brains and marrow
Presumably he cut them in some very
simple patterns and joined the pieces to-
gether by rough sewing with bone needles
many Of which are preserved to this day
in the museums. For thread the sinews
of the reindeer were used
Most important Of the weapons en-
ployed in war was the flint knife, but an
other very effective tool for strife was
supplied by nature in the lower jawbone
Of the great cave bear. The long and
solid bone furnished a handle and the
canine took n dangerous point, with
which most deadly blows could be
struck. 1t seems rather curious that
even in the midst Of their extremely
precarious existence the people Of that
age manufactured necklaces, bracelets
and other articles Of personal adornment.
either with shells, strung like beads, OF
with the teeth of various animals, which
We're pierced with holes for the same
purpose. The horny part OF the ear q
the horse and OK supplied similar orna.
ments.
Communication, and even commerce
Were established in those days between
tribes all over Western Europe. Peopl,
who lived in Belgium We're obliged &
travel as far as the district now calet
Champagne, in France, in order to pro
cure the ftints which We're not obtainabl,
in their own locality They, likewise
brought back fossil shells out of whicl
they made fantastic necklaces. At tht
same epoch real manufactures of weap
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