Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-13
MAN In THE OLD DAYS
How Human Beings Lived During the
Epoch Of the Reindeer.
LIFE IN THE CAvERNs.
Was Primsvaa Man . Cannibefe-Csves Dwelt
In Hundreds q Thoasands Of Years AGO
Hunting and Fishins in the Ancient Streams
and Forests Discovery Of the Mstals.
4 LrHoUeH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

A LTHoUGH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
"A Of years have certainly elapsed since that
epoch when primeval man occupied western
Europe in company with the reindeer and
other animals which have in these later DAYS
retreated to the arctic, SO much has been ascer-
tained by science respecting him, as STAR re-
porter has learned, 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 gia-
cial period had come to an end. and the mighty
animals with which his own distant proyenitors
had been obliged TO contend-the great cave
bear. twice as big as grizzly, the cave hon.
the mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros and the
saber-toothed tiger-were fast becoming ex-
tfnct. Il was still very cold, else what is now
France could not have been occupied BY rein
deer as plentifully distributed as are now
sheep in the same region, and BY the musk OK,
the ehamois. the Wild goat and the lemming,
all OF which have been driven by the increas-
ing warmth Of subsequent seasons to tine
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 in caverns, selecting BY pref
erence hole in the rocks with very narrow
opening, which could only be entered by climb
Ing. Thus he not only obtained shelter but
rendered himself secure against attacks by
wild beasts. When he took up his abode in a
level and non-mountainous country he WINS
compelled to construct artificial caves for him.
self by gathe.in stones together. Or. for
want OF cavern, If an overhanging cliff could
be found. he helped out this natural protection
with rocks and thus made convenient retreat.
ments have been discovered which, from the
remains found, are known to have been occu-
pied by families or tribes. the stone tools and
other objects found with them demonstrating
their extreme antiquity. Also some reckoning
can be formed approximately Of the number Of
centuries required for the deposit Of the strata
covering up these relics.
WHERE THEIR RETREATS WERE.
Such retreats we're usually situated in val
ley near a running stream. Like the caverns
they contain great deposits of bones of man.
pons OF bone and stone. The hearths are also
found, on which the primevsl people cooked
their food, with quantities of ashes from fires
that burned so many ages ago. These hearths
were made from slabs Of very hard rock, such
as sandstone or slate, bedded down solidly in
the ground. Nan during that epoch had no
notion OF agriculture. He had not as yet do
mesticated any animal so as to profit by its
strength or to insure by its means O constant
supply Of food He was therefore hunter and
depended 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 meat. Il was to him
what it is at present to the Laplanders, the
most precious gift of nature. He fed upon its
flesh aud made his garments of its skin, utiliz-
ing its tendons threads in the preparation Of
his dress, while its bones and antlers were con-
verted into all kinds Of weapons and imple-
ments Renders horn was the earliest raw
m 1fap fu rin t.ur
and to the human being OF that age 1t was ali
that iron is to his descendants now.
The horse, the OK, the elk the ibex and the
chamois all contributed to the primeval larder
Skulls and the long bones of tine newly-killed
animals were broken with hatchets and ham,
ners for the purpose of extracting the marrow
and the brains, which those who toasted 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 upon the rat Around
the heGrthstone in one cave at Chaleux more
than twenty pounds weight of the bones Of
water rats, half roasted. we're dug up.
FISH WAS EARLY USED As Foop.
That fish was used by man at that epoch as
an article of food has been proved by the dis
covery 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 en-
pioyed in that age was little splinter Of bone,
from one to two inches in length and pointed
at both ends. This was the primitive fish hook
1t was fastened to line by the middle and COW
cred with bait, SO that when swallowed it be-
came fixed inside the body of the pIey
1t is not known whether the men Of the
reindeer period practiced canuibalism or not
but it seems probable that they did. Human
skulls have been found in Scotland mixed up
Snr,lr rra.l Hr,.tc akn n
and on the latter traces Of human teeth are
apparently recognizable. Elsewhere human
finger joints have been discovered among the
remains Of cooking in the caves. At that time
man had not as yet domesticated the dog, as is
shown by the fact that trace whatever of
bones gnawed by them have been exhumed in
any Of the human settlements referred to. II
Is known that primeval man dressed himself in
garments OF skius, particularly those of the
reindeer. Furthermore, il is believed that he
knew how to prepare the hides by clearing
them of their hair with flint scrapers. Having
performed this process he rendered the skins
supple by rubbing them with brains aud
marrow. Presumably he cut them out in some
very simple patterns and joined the pieces to-
gether by rough sewing with bone needles,
many Of which are preserved 10 this day in
the museums. For thread the sinews Of the
reindeer were used.
EARLY WEAPONS OF WAR.
hoss iniPoFsahs VI Tue weapons emplOyed IN
war was the flint knife, but another very effect
i've tool for strife was supplied by nature in the
shape Of the lower jaw bone Of the great cave
bear. 1he long and solid bone furnished a
handle and the great canine tooth a dangerous
point with which most deadly blows could be
struck. II seems rather curious that even in
the midst Of their extremely precarious exist
ence the people Of that age manufactured neck
laces, bracelets and other articles of personal
adjournment, either with shells strung like beads
or with the teeth of various animals, which
were pierced with holes for the same purpose.
The horny part Of the ear of the horse and OK
supplied similar ornaments.
Communication and even commerce were es-
tablished in those days between tribes all over
western Europe. People who lived in Belgium
were obliged to travel as far as the district
now called Champagne in France in order to
procure the fints which were not obtainapie in
their own locality. They likewise brought back
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