The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-01-09


between Poncin and Neuvie-sur-Ain AS long
ago as 1875 scientist, Mr.. Moyret. called atten-
tion TO it as having been inhabited in prehistoric
times. Ever since numerous investigators have
visited II. They conducted their investigations
so assiduously that the level OF the cave formed
during the Neothic age-comparatively recent
in the eyes of geologists and anthropologists-
dug away also the contiguous level or the
earlier Magdaenian age. This lowered the Level
of the cave by 75 centimeters and brought to light
rich fields of Neolthc and Magdaenian relics
But the richest find OF all 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 one
meter further down they found a stratum OF hne
gravel, showing unmistakable signs OF dating
from the still earlier Aurignacian age This
proved to be a veritabe treasure trove.
In 1t were uncovered the studio" OF prehis
toric artist, containing number OF different sorts
of engravers tools, pieces OF mammoth, rhlnoc
and raindeer bones, pieces OF stone ready TOT
engraving and stones and bones with engravings
already cut into them.
One Of the latter represents a horse or re-
markably finished type; another shows a blson'
still another a wild sheep. But the prize OF the
whole collection, the prize which, 1t is conhdently
expected will make this epoch-making hnd
in the annals of anthropology, is the piece OF
mammoth's bone on which is cut the figure OF a
human being This, in the words OF those who
have unearthed it, '1s the first document repre-
senting in engraved form, the man OF the Middle
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 man are extremely He delighted
in drawing and carving the strange beasts which
he saw about him-bisons reindeer, mammoth,
horses and the like-but when II came 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 Nillendorf, In Aus
tria: at Brassempouy the Laussel cave. and The
grottoes Of Grimaldi in France and other places
Owing to this paucty OF frsthand information
reconstructons OF prehistoric man from the vari-
GUS skulls and bones found at different times
have been largely a matter of conjecture. II has
been a case OF every guessing for himself.
legion One group of savants, endeavoring 10
build up our remote ancestor from the famous
relics found in the Neanderthal, near Dusseldorf,
Germany; at Spy in Belgium, and at La Chapelle-
aux-Saints, in France have shown us something
materially strengthening the Darwinian theory
that man is descended from the ape. Another
group, basing it's deductions on the man recon
structed from the Ptdown skull has endeavor
ed TO prove that prehistoric man, from whom we
are descended never became bestial as the
possessors OF the Neanderthal-Spy-La Chappelle-
aux-Saints skulls and that the latter belonged to
a branch of the race which gradually degenerat-
ed until 1t finally became extinct, while the other
and superior branch kept on improving until man
as we know him was gradually evolved.
This latter theory. It is expected by the dis
coverers Of he prehistoric studio In the cave
OF La Coomblere. will be greatly bolstered up
by what they have brought TO light To begin
with, the best known deSetions Of human beings
of a similar sort-notably the sculptured forms OF
women found at Azl and elsewhere In France.
as we'll as the sketches d the human face un-
earthed in the cave OF Marsoulas-were produced
in the Magdalenian age, according to the theory
generally accepted by Frenchmen. and therefore.
are supposed TO be much more recent than any
thiag dating from the Aurignacian age.
Granting then that the pictures in the cave OF
La Colom5efe really date from the Aurignacian
ags-and t. report read by NJ Douville shows
prettv concIusvely 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 Coombiere Is such as Inn
med ately to rivet the closest attention on IL
r. sha here shOwu. the OF the