Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-09-03


what is now southwestern France and northeast
ern Spain, although Germany. Austria Italy. Bel
gium, England. and to a lesser degree other coun-
tries came within his range This apparent dis
trihution may be deceptive, however. Many OF
the stations are out in the open, as for example
on the valley terraces of the Thames and the
Somme; but the majority Of the sites. especially
those OF later times, are sheltered in some way.
The shelter may consist merely of an overhang
ing cliff 1t may be a grotto yawning on the noun
tain side and 1t may be the far interior of a cave
This latter type of site 1t is relatively easy to find
by making a deliberate search while the location
of an ancient camp or workshop in the open coun-
try is the result only of chance II is conceivable
of course that these roaming. migratory hunters
returned seasonally to the natural shelters, but
the other hand, II is possible that many of them
built huts-some of the geometric cave paintings
suggest that they did-and unless these huts stood
in very close proximity to some sheltering cliff all
traces of the spot and its relics would be lost.
Hence, we may properly take for granted that
hundreds OF archaeological stations will remain un
discovered, In consequence of which our notion
of the actual strength of the population at any
given place during these early millennums OF
human existence must continue imperfect II not
inadequate.
AS need hardly be stated the presence of
natural habitations depends ordinarily a high
relief or a more or less mountainous topography.
Caves are most abundant in volcanic regions
In the western United States. or in limestone
areas such as Kentucky and adjacent common
walled valleys or box.canyons and own cliff
dweller region affords the best example of them
and their utilization. In Europe the most famous
cave groups located in the lower French
Pyrenees and their Cantabrian extension in north
ern Spain, while the equally famous shelter region
includes short sections of the Vezere and Beune
valleys at Les Eyzies. in the French department
OF Dordogne. Both regions are wonderfully pic
turesque and impressive and barring SONS alter
ations in the fora they have not changed much
in general appearance since the arrival of paleo-
lithic man. These caves and shelters are all in
limestone formations and the results chiefly
of mechanical erosion. Some OF the caves. espe-
cially those Of the lower attitudes, are still in
process OF making while others well up on the
mountain sides are very ancient-in fact. were in
Their old age when mag irs. entered them;
Roughly Speaking, the shelters PROPER that is
the overhangng cliffs and the wide open grottoes
were the homes of paleolithic man and therefore
naturally furnish with important data concern
ing his physical makeup. his practical ability,
and the general nature of his everyday life. The
caves on the other hand served him mainly as
galleries for remarkable series Of paintings,
cravings and carvings which in a measure reveal
to us his mental attitude toward life. The caves.
1t must be understood. were exceedingly dark and
damp. ordinarily unfit for habitation. except pos
sibly temporary retreat during the hard win
ters. and contrariwise the shelter walls. having
been exposed for thousands OF years to the wealth
erng elements. could not have preserved for US
either paintings or delicate engravings that may
have been made upon them. There are several
somewhat Qualifying exceptions to these sweeping
statements however. For instance. the Gargas
cavern near Montre1eau, France, and likewise the
Altamira cave. near Santander. Spain. appear to
have been occupied for protracted periods, al
though In both cases only very close to the
trance. On the other hand. some of the shelters
such Cap Blanc near Les Eyzies. France.
have preserved mainly through accident, fine
series of high relief sculptures. But general
thing the camp sites are in large halfopen shell
tiers. usually facing the while the entrances
to the painted caves face In any direction, and
for the most part are very small and inconspicu-
ous. At Castillo only there is the perfect combi-
nation-a large. sunny grotto, which was occupied
periodically throughout most of paleolithic times
and which served besides as the vestibule to
considerable cave. famous for its mural art.
An examination OF the various Dordogne shell
tiers. coupled with study OF the changing types
found in them is most instructive. Nearly all of
the stations here at the base of the high
cliffs that hedge the valleys
both sides; but in few Instances the relic-bear.
ing debris lies eroded ledge some distance
up the face OF the protecting wall. Almost within