This book deals with the earliest phases in the past history of Mankind: the selected period ends at the Aurignacian division of the Palaeolithic Age. I regret to be unable to affix definite dates in years to the several divisions of time now recognised. To illustrate the difficulty of forming conclusions on this subject, it should be noted that in 1904 Professor Rutot (p. 103) assigned a duration of 139,000 years to the Pleistocene period, while in 1909 Dr Sturge claimed 700,000 years for a portion only of the same period. Evidently the present tendency is to increase enormously the drafts on geological time, and to measure in millions the years that have elapsed since the first traces of human existence were deposited. But in the face of estimates which differ so widely, it seemed preferable to distinguish subdivisions of time by reference to animal-types or the forms of stone-implements, rather than by the lapse of years. In the attempt to summarise a considerable amount of evidence, I have tried to select the facts most relevant to the subject in hand. And where an opinion is expressed I have endeavoured to indicate the reasons for the decision that is adopted. Additional evidence is pouring in at the present time, and there is no doubt but that the next few For the loan of blocks, or for permission to reproduce illustrations, my cordial thanks are due to the editors and publishers of the journals mentioned in the following list. The authors' names are appended to the several illustrations. Anatomischer Anzeiger, Archiv fÜr Anthropologie, Archivio per l'Antropologia e la Etnologia, BeitrÄge zur Urgeschichte Bayerns, Korrespondenzblatt der deutschen anthropologischen Gesellschaft, L'Anthropologie, Royal Dublin Society, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Zeitschrift fÜr Ethnologie. W. L. H. DUCKWORTH December 11, 1911 |