The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-01-16


between Poncin and Neuvillesuf-Ain. AS long
ago as 1875 scientist, Mr.. Moyret, called atten-
ton to II as haN ing been inhabited in prehistoric
times. Ever since numerous Investigators have
visited It, They conducted their Investigations
so assiduously that the level of the cave formed
during the Neolithic age-comparatively recent,
In the eyes of biologists and anthropoogists-
was dug away, also the contiguous level of the
earlier Magdalenian age. This lowered the level
of the by rs centimeters and brought to light
rich fields of Neolithic and Magdalenian relics.
But the richest find Of all was yet to come. Be-
ginning last May, the latest investigators began to
dig deeper into the soil forming the floor of the
cave, and after they had penetrated about
meter further down they found stratum of fine
gravel, showing unmistakable signs of dating
from the still earlier Aurignacian age. This
proved to be veritable treasure trove.
In 1t we're uncovered the studio" of prehs-
toric artist, containing number of different sorts
of engraver's tools pieces of mammoth rhinoc-
and raindeer bones, pieces of stone ready for
engraving, and stones and bones with engravings
already cut into them
One of the latter represents a horse OF re-
markedly finished type; another shows bison.
still another a wild sheep. But the prize of the
whole collection, the prize which, it is confidently
expected, will make this epoch-making find
in the annals of anthropology, Is the piece OF
mammoth's bone which is cut the figure of
human being. This, in the words Of those who
have unearthed it, lis the first document repre-
Quaternary age the minimum age of which is
$4,000 years"
AS those who delve into the remote history of
our race are aware. picturings of himself by pre-
historic extremely He delighted
In drawing and carving the strange beasts which
he saw about him-bisons, reindeer mammoth
horses and the lke-but when it to giving
us an idea of what he looked like himself he was
strangely coy.
Especially rare are depictions OF man in the
form Of drawings or engravings. Rude carvings
of human beings, dating far beyond the dawn OF
history have been dug up-at Villendorf in Aus
tria; at Brassempouy the Laussel cave, and the
grottoes of Grimadi in France and other places.
Owing to this paucity of frst-hand information,
reconstructions of prehistoric man from the vari
GUS skulls and bones found at different times
have been largely matter of conjecture. 1t has
been case of every one guessing for himself,
legion. One group of savants, endeavoring to
build up remote ancestor from the famous
relics found in the Neanderthal Dusseldorf,
Germany; at Spy, in Belgium, and at La Chapee-
aux-Sants, in France have shown something
materially strengthening the Darwinian theory
that man is descended from the ape. Another
group, basng its deductions the man" recon
structed from the Pitdown skull has endeavor-
ed to prove that prehistoric man from whom we
sare descended, never became bestia the
possessors OF the Neanderthal-SpyLa Chappelle-
aux-Saints skulls, and that the latter belonged to
branch of the which gradually degenerate
ed until IT hnally became extinct, While the other
and superior branch kept on improving until man
know him gradually evolved.
This latter theory, it is expected by the dis
coverers of the prehistoric studio" in the cave
of La Coombiere, will be greatly bolstered up
by what they have brought to light. To begin
with. the best known depictons of human beings
OF similar sort-notably the sculptured forms of
women found at Azl and elsewhere in France,
as well tho sketches of the human face I'M
earthed in the cave of Marsoulas-were produced
in the Magdalenian age according TO the theory
generally accepted by Frenchmen, and, therefore.
supposed TO be much more recent than any
thing dating from the Aurignacian age
Granting, then, thst the pictures In the cave OF
La Colombiere really date from the Aurignacian
age-and the report read by NJ. Douville shows
pretty conclusively that they do-and that those
similar to them discovered up to now are of
more recent date the character OF the work done
by the cave artist of La Colombiere is such i'm
medately TO rivet the closest attention on IT.
For the man" here shown, the man of the