Evening star., 1932-01-10
ICEAGE ROVERS
i Barred By SCIENCE
Sea Shell in Cave Reveals
Men $4,000 Years Ago
Liked to Travel.

Ice-age man was no stay home,
budding about his cave fire.
This is shown by the discovery, just
announced by J. Townsend Russell OF
the Division of Old World Archaeology
of the Smithsonian Institution, Of
tropical sea shell in an ancient cave
bottom in the foothills OF the Pyrenees.
Mr.. Russell has just returned from
France, following negotiation Of an
agreement between the University OF
Toulouse and the Smithsonian for con-
tinued joint excavation of this cavern
long famous for its polychrome
painting of the European bison and
Its wall engravings This cave OF
MarsoulaS in the Haute Garonne region
Is the property Of the French univer-
gity. 1t was first exploited by archeolo-
gists in 1867, after which 1t re-
matned comparatively neglected until
Mr.. Russell undertook WORK there last
Summer.
Digs Into Cavern Floor.
Digging into the floor OF the cavern,
Russell found two ancient hearth levels.
The first yielded artifactS typical OF
the Magdalenian era which was char
acterized by the retreat of the last
great glaciation of Europe. The climate
of the country still was notably cold
Just below it was an Aurignacian
heart level, dating from the period OF
the glacistion itself. This yielded the
customary flint and bone implements
knives, scraperS, JaVeltn points and
decorative pendantS-which usually
are associated with Aurignacian culture.
Among these the Triton shell came as
O totally unexpected find. ConchologiSts
identified it as that of creature which
in, ha on1I
pean waters of the time. Even the
Mediterranean then was a cold sea. 1t
must have come from far to the south
ward, probably Africa.
No artificial alterations had been
made in the shell. 1t may have been
used as a drinking cup, Russell points
out, or 1t may have been preserved as
q curio-a momento of his wanderings
treasured by some Aurignacian Ulysses.
The hearth level dates back about $4,000
years. Any other curios might well
have disappeared long since. Russell
plans to return next Summer and
make q much more exhaustive search.
ExceIIed as Painters.
There were striking Emergencies in
the culture of the Aurignaeean man OF
the PyreneeS-a close relative, at least,
His material culture was at level no
tabIy at variance with his skill as
realistic animal painter and engraver.
The bison paintings-eXecuted in red
and yellow ochre and black magnanese
probably mixed with animal fatS-are
masterpieces of grace and realism. The
came is true of the rock engravingS.
One of these paintings, Russell found,
was executed in a unique fashion, the
animal form being produced by series
of dots formed by the painter dipping
his thumb into the wet paint and then
pressing it on the wall. For vast time
the entrance to the cavern must have
been closed, so that the paintings were
protected from the elements. Other
wise they doubtless would have deterio-
rated beyond recognition, Russell says.
The well-preserved ro-Magnon paint
ings have been found either in closed
caves or far in the darkness OF the in
terror where no light could reach them.
These paintings, however, are not lar
from the entrance.
Extends Far Back.
This cavern extends for about 80
meters under the foothills of the
mountains. There are indication that
at the time of its occupancy it went
back much farther. Galleries have
been closed by clay inflltrations, ef1ec-
lively hiding any treasures they may
have contained. An effort may be
made to dig through these inf1ltrations.
Russell also plans to excavate in other
caves in the vicinity. The art of the
region forms a bridge between the cave
art of Northern Spain and that OF the
celebrated Dordogne region of France.
The cooperative project between the
Smithsonian and the University OF
Toulouse will continue for 10 years, at
the end of which time 1t is expected
that everything the cave has to offer
will have been uncovered. II Is pos
sible that the cooperation between the
two department may be extended TO
other fields, especially the French Near
East and Africa. Both these areas
offer fascinating and uneXploited fields
for the archeologist interested in pre-
historic cultures.
Russell undertook the Cave or Mar
Soulas excavations after projected
expedition to Kurdistan, where re-
mains of historic man recently have
been recorded, had to be abandoned
because of a revolt Of the kurdish
tribes.
This undertaking, he reports now
cannot be carried out for an INDEFINITE
perlOQ, Until comparative Ia" dAu vi
der is restored in the region.
Under the agreement with the Uni
versity of Toulouse, the two inStitu-
tions will share equally in the pre-his-
toric artifactS recovered. A consider
able collection made by Russell this
Summer now is on its way to Washing
ton for exhibition in the National Mu-
scum.