The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-07-15

spersed with larger, which suggest pieces OF
brick Overlying this stratum was layer OF
sand with layer Of more recent brick earth
above It, then red loan, and finally the vegetable
top soil-altogether four strata. averaging about
six feet In total thickness.
The top of the stratum in which the remains
were found appears to have been the land surface
of the age in which the man lived. This is shown
by the fortunate discovery. some 80 yards away,
OF the charred and blackened remains of pre-
historic fire hearths, fragments of burnt bones
and wood worked fiints and many animal bones.
The worked fnts have been submitted to expert
examination at the British museum, where the
balance OF opinion appears to be in favor of
assigning them to the paleolithic period, or, at
any rate. to the time Of transition between that
and the neolithic age. which would place their
age at some $4,000 years. Geological evidence.
however, dates them still further back for the
corresponding deposits the opposite side OF
the Midway have yielded fossils of pleistocene
times when the hairy mammoth. arctic fox rein
deer and woolly rhinoceros roamed the land. The
inference, therefore, is that have here a paleo-
hthic encampment and that the skeleton was
one of the party. who. Judging from the position
OF the remains, inferred a short distance
below the then surface, while some religious sig
nificance is suggested by the body being buried
with the head to the east.
How did the human remains come to lie in
this stratum of brick earth? DIR. Edwards OBJ
served. from the position OF the homes which
remained fast in place. that the skeleton lay on
its back. that all parts OF the skeleton were rep
resented. and that the whole did not occupy
more than an extent OF three feet In length
evidence that the body was In the CONTRACTED"
posture at death. complete skeleton, much
weathered and fragmentary, and In a contracted
posture. could only be explained by supposing
that II had been buried. The solution OF the
problem became apparent later At some dis
lance from the site OF the skeleton there were
found extensive remains OF ancient fire hearShs.
These lay Immediately over the stratum con.
tanning the skeleton, and under the everything or
land surface. and the skeleton probably one
OF the men who sat round the hearths on that
old land surface That is the explanation Nj
Cook suggested at a recent meeting OF the Royal
Archaeological institute. when he gave an &C.
count of his discoveries. Mr.. A. S. Kennard,
who is our highest authority the age OF val
ley deposits regards the strata the Mailing
late pleistocene in date. Mr.. Cook de
scrlbed the flint implements found on the old lane
surface. but they belong 10 IA type which was
used by paieolithic well neothic men.
The remains OF the skeleton were forwarded 10
Professor Keith OF the Royal College of Surgeons
for expert examination, and, he explained TO
the writer, close scrutiny revealed the surpris-
Ing fact that we have here type of man who
In every partieular--brain capacity, conformation
OF skull, long oval face. pointed projecting chin.
stature (nye feet four incbes) and general build