The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-04

u
IL q Asia and Africa, less than four
IL 81 hundred paleolithic stations, that is,
IL 81 places where remains Of one kind
II M or another have been left behind
- by early man. This pri
- | marily a hunter and his chief center
So of activity appears to have been
what is southwestern France and northeast
Spain, although Germany, Austria, Italy, Bel
GUM, En- gland and to lesser degree other coun-
tries. came within his range This apparent dis
tributon may be deceptive, however. Many of
the stations out in the open. for example
on the valley terraces of the Thames and the
Somme; but the majority of the Sites especially
those of later times, sheltered in some way.
The shelter may consist merely of overhang-
ing cliff it may be grotto yawning on the noun
tain side and it may be the far interior of
This latter type of site it is relatively to find
by making a deliberate search while the location
of an ancient camp workshop in the open coun-
try is the result only of chance 1t is conceivable
of course that these roaming, migratory hunters
returned seasona1ly to the natural shelters, but
the other hand, it is possible that many of them
built huts-some of the geometric cave paintings
suggest that they dd-and unless these huts stood
in very close proximity to sheltering cliff all
traces of the spot and it's relics would be lost.
Hence, may properly take for granted that
hundreds of archaeological stations will remain I'M
discovered, in consequence Of which our notion
of the actual strength of the population at any
given place during these early millenniums of
human existence must continue imperfect, if not
Inadequate
AS need hardly be stated the presence of
natural habitations depends ordinarily a high
relief Or or less mountainous topography.
Caves are most abundant in volcanic regions as
in the western United States, in limestone
areas such Kentucky and adjacent common
wealths. Shelters are notable features of steep
walled valleys or box canyons and cliff
dweller region affords the best example of them
and their utilization. In Europe the most famous
cave groups are located in the lower French
Pyrenees and their Cantabran extension in north
SPAIN while the equally famous shelter region
incl Che ions of hn oT76 POIlT10
valleys at Les Eyzies, in the French department
of Dordogne. Both regions are wonderfully pic
turesque and impressive. and barring alter
ations in the flora they have not changed much
in general appearance since the arrival of paleo-
Ithic These caves and shelters 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 the
mountain sides, very ancient-in fact in
their old age when man first entered them.
Roughly speaking the shelters proper that is
the overhanging cliffs and the wide open grottoes
the homes of paleolithic 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 remarka BILE series of paintings en-
cravings and carvings which in measure reveal
his mental attitude toward life. The caves,
it must be understood exceedingly dark and
damp ordinarily unfit for habitation except pos
sibly as temporary retreat during the hard win
tiers. and contrariwse the shelter walls having
been exposed for thousands of years to the wealth
ering elements, could not have preserved for
either paintings delicate engravings that may
have been made upon them. There several
somewhat qualifying exceptions to these sweeping
statements however For instance. the Gargas
cavern Montrejeau, France, and likewise the
Altamira cave, Santander, Spain, appear to
have; eeen occupied for protracted periods al
though in both only very close to the
trance. On the other hand of the shelters
sues Cap Blanc. Les EyZies, France,
have preserved. n. tnly through accident fine
series of high relief sculptures But general
thing the camp sites in large half-open shell
ters usually facing the sun, while the entrances
to the painted caves face in any direction, and
for the most part very small and inconspicu
Gus. At Castillo only there is the perfect combi-
nation-a large, sunny grotto. which occupied
periodically throughout most of paleolithic times
and which served besides the vestibu1e to
considerable cave, famous for its mural art.
An examination of the various Dordogne shell
ters coupled with a 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 on an eroded ledge some distance
up the face of the protecting wall. Almost within