Early Man in Britain and His Place in the Tertiary Period
EARLY MAN IN BRITAIN
AND
HIS PLACE IN THE TERTIARY PERIOD
BY
W. BOYD DAWKINS, M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., F.S.A.
CURATOR OF THE MANCHESTER MUSEUM, AND PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY AND
PALÆONTOLOGY IN OWENS COLLEGE, MANCHESTER
ILLUSTRATED BY WOODCUTS
London
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1880
[The Right of Translation and Reproduction is reserved.]
Printed by R. & R. Clark, Edinburgh
PREFACE.
In my work on "Cave-hunting," published in 1874, I endeavoured to clear the way for the present enquiry into primæval man, his growth in culture, his conditions of life, and his relation to history; and I found it necessary to treat of cave-exploration in detail, before I could venture to grapple with the difficulties inherent in a work which treats of the borderland of geology, archæology, and history. In dealing with them, I have to acknowledge my debt to the writings of Sir Charles Lyell, Sir John Lubbock, Mr. John Evans, Dr. Thurnam, and Mr. Franks in this country; to Professors Gaudry, Steenstrup, Capellini, and Drs. Broca, Virchow, Wiberg, Rütimeyer, Forsyth Major on the Continent, as well as to many contributors to the scientific periodicals of France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany, and more especially to the valuable memoirs in the Comptes Rendus du Congrès International d'Anthropologie et d'Archéologie Préhistoriques. I have also used the materials accumulated in some of my own Essays published in the Edinburgh and Fortnightly Reviews, and in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society. I have attempted more particularly to prepare myself for the present enquiry, by the examination of the more important Museums in France and Italy, and of some of those in Germany and Switzerland.
Among many friends who have aided me in various ways, my thanks are more particularly due to Mr. A. E. Dobbs for revising the proofs; to Dr. R. Angus Smith, and Messrs. R. D. Darbishire, John Evans, J. F. Philips, A. W. Franks, Worthington, G. Smith, and Marcus M. Hartog, for assistance of various kinds in the letterpress. For the use of many wood blocks, I have also to thank Messrs. Cheadle, Pengelly, Gardner, Greenwell, Evans, Mello, Franks, Parker, Williams and Norgate, General Lane Fox, and Professor Daniel Wilson, as well as the Councils of the Geological Society of London, of the Society of Antiquaries, and of the Plymouth Institution. And lastly, I have to thank Mr. Rowe, a young and promising artist, for the care with which he has represented the groups of Eocene, Meiocene, and Pleiocene life.
In laying this book before my readers, I am conscious of its many defects, arising to some extent from the nature of the subject, and from the swiftness with which our knowledge of Early Man is being enlarged by new discoveries.
W. B. D.
1st Jan. 1880.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE RELATION OF GEOLOGY TO ARCHÆOLOGY AND HISTORY.
The Continuity between these Three Sciences |
3 |
The Three Phases of Life on the Earth |
6 |
These Three Phases Universal |
7 |
Breaks in the Succession accompanied by Geographical Changes |
8 |
The History of Tertiary Life ends with Man |
9 |
The Classification of the Tertiary Period |
9 |
The Specialisation of the Mammalia explained by the Theory of Evolution |
11 |
CHAPTER II.
BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CHANGES IN BRITAIN BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF MAN.—THE EOCENE PERIOD.
The Eocene Classification |
14 |
South-Eastern Coast-Line of Britain |
17 |
Eocene Seaboard of Britain |
17 |
Britain connected with America |
20 |
The Mountains |
23 |
The Rivers |
25 |
The Lower Eocene Plants and Animals |
25 |
„„Mammalia |
26 |
„„Birds |
28 |
The Mid Eocene Flora |
28 |
„„Mammalia |
30 |
British Upper Eocene Mammals |
31 |
Upper Eocene Mammalia of the Continent |
32 |
The Order Primates represented |
34 |
Climate of Britain Tropical |
35 |
General Conclusions |
35 |
Man not here |
36 |
CHAPTER III.
BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CHANGES IN BRITAIN BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF MAN.—THE MEIOCENE PERIOD.
The Meiocene Classification |
38 |
Genera of Meiocene Mammalia now living |
39 |
The Southern Seaboard |
40 |
Continuity with North America |
43 |
The Mountains |
44 |
Meiocene Volcanoes in British Islands |
45 |
The Meiocene Rivers |
47 |
The British Meiocene Forests |
47 |
Meiocene Flora of the Hebrides and Ireland |
49 |
„„ on the Continent |
49 |
Lower Meiocene Mammals |
53 |
„„ Birds |
54 |
Mammals inhabiting Forests of the Mid Meiocene Age |
55 |
Land Mammalia and Birds of Upper Meiocenes |
59 |
Meiocene Geography on the Continent |
61 |
The Meiocene Climate |
62 |
No Evidence of Glacial Period in the Meiocene Age |
65 |
No Proof of Man in Europe in the Meiocene Age |
66 |
CHAPTER IV.
BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CHANGES IN NORTH-WESTERN EUROPE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF MAN.—THE PLEIOCENE PERIOD.
British Pleiocene Strata |
71 |
Geography of Britain in the Pleiocene Age |
72 |
Evidence of Icebergs in the North Sea, off the Coast of Britain |
75 |
The Pleiocene Flora |
77 |
Pleiocene Climate |
78 |
Lower Pleiocene Mammalia of France |
79 |
Upper Pleiocene Mammalia of France |
80 |
Pleiocene Mammalia of Italy |
83 |
„„ in Britain |
84 |
Important Characters of Fauna |
86 |
The Development of Antlers in the Deer |
88 |
The Retreat of the Quadrumana from Europe |
90 |
Evidence of Pleiocene Man in France and Italy unsatisfactory |
90 |
CHAPTER V.
BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CHANGES IN BRITAIN AT THE TIME OP THE ARRIVAL OF MAN.
Definition of Pleistocene Period |
94 |
Survivals from Pleiocene Period |
95 |
Incoming Living Species of Temperate Habit |
96 |
„ Arctic Species |
99 |
„ Species now restricted to Mountains |
100 |
„„ living in Hot Countries |
102 |
The Extinct Species |
104 |
Evidence from Distribution of Mammalia as to Geography of Europe |
109 |
Evidence as to Climate offered by Mammalia |
112 |
Climatal and Geographical Changes proved by Glacial Phenomena |
114 |
Relation of Mammalia to Glacial Phenomena |
121 |
The Three Divisions of the Pleistocene Age |
122 |
Pleistocene Mammalia in Britain before, during, and after the Glacial Period |
123 |
CHAPTER VI.
THE RIVER-DRIFT HUNTER OF THE PLEISTOCENE AGE AND HIS SURROUNDINGS.
Great Britain in the Early Pleistocene Age |
124 |
Early Pleistocene Forests in Britain |
125 |
Mammalia inhabiting Early Pleistocene Forests |
126 |
Physical Relations of Forest Bed |
129 |
Early Pleistocene Forests in France |
131 |
Presence of Man in Early Pleistocene Strata doubtful |
133 |
The Mid Pleistocene Mammalia |
134 |
Evidence of the Presence of Man |
136 |
The Arctic Mammalia present |
138 |
Physical Relations of Mid Pleistocene Strata |
138 |
Level not an absolute Test of Age |
142 |
Mid Pleistocene Caverns |
143 |
The Lignite Beds of Dürnten present no Traces of Man |
145 |
The Late Pleistocene Mammalia |
146 |
Mammals found in Late Pleistocene River Strata and Caverns in Britain |
147 |
The Late Pleistocene Geography |
148 |
The Range of the Late Pleistocene Mammals over Britain and Ireland |
152 |
The Late Pleistocene River Deposits |
154 |
The Reindeer Ford at Windsor |
155 |
Palæolithic Implements in the Valley of the Thames |
156 |
River-Drift Man in the Neighbourhood of Salisbury |
161 |
Social Condition of the River-Drift Man |
163 |
His Range on the Continent |
163 |
Present in Africa, Palestine, and India |
165 |
Human Skeletons in River-deposits |
167 |
Relation to the Glacial Period |
169 |
General Conclusions as to the River-Drift Man |
172 |
CHAPTER VII.
THE CAVE-MAN AND THE ADVANCE IN CULTURE.
The Caves of Cresswell Crags |
175 |
The Pin Hole |
176 |
The Robin Hood and Church Hole Caves |
177 |
The Three Pleistocene Strata |
178 |
The Lower Red Sand |
179 |
The Middle Cave-Earth |
180 |
The Upper Cave-Earth and Breccia |
183 |
The Oldest Fauna in the Cresswell Caves |
186 |
This Fauna in the Caves of Yorkshire |
187 |
The Caves of Castleton |
188 |
Migration of Bison and Reindeer |
189 |
Bison in the District in Summer, Reindeer in Winter |
191 |
Man present with the Hippopotamus and Leptorhine Rhinoceros in the Cave of Pont Newydd |
192 |
Palæolithic Men of the Caves of Somerset and Devon |
193 |
The River-drift Men preceded the Cave-men in Caves of France |
198 |
M. de Mortillet's Classification |
199 |
Chronological Sequence, based on the Associated Mammalia, unsatisfactory |
203 |
Cave-men throughout Europe in the same Stage of Culture |
203 |
Range of the Cave-men compared with that of the River-drift Men |
204 |
Civilisation of Cave-men |
205 |
Dwellings |
206 |
Domestic Pursuits |
208 |
No Pottery |
209 |
Means of obtaining Fire |
210 |
Implement-making |
210 |
Sewing |
210 |
Dress and Ornaments |
211 |
Hunting, Fowling, and Fishing |
212-219 |
Art |
220 |
Engraving |
220 |
Sculpture |
223 |
Skeletons of Cave-men |
224 |
The Cave of Duruthy |
226 |
No Interments proved to be of Palæolithic Age |
229 |
Relation of Cave-men to River-drift Men |
230 |
Cave-men probably Eskimos |
233 |
„ not now represented in Europe |
242 |
General Conclusions |
244 |
CHAPTER VIII.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE PREHISTORIC FARMER, AND THE HERDSMAN.—
THE NEOLITHIC CIVILISATION.
Definition of the Prehistoric Period |
247 |
Geography of Britain |
248 |
Submerged Forests |
248 |
Climate of Britain |
255 |
Prehistoric Mammalia—Wild Species |
257 |
„ and Historic Periods belong to the Tertiary |
262 |
Magnitude of Interval between Pleistocene and Prehistoric Periods |
263 |
Relative Length of Pleistocene and Prehistoric Periods |
265 |
Neolithic Inhabitants of Britain and Ireland |
265 |
Hut Circles and Log Huts |
266-269 |
The Neolithic Homestead |
271 |
Implements |
274 |
Spinning and Weaving |
275 |
Pottery |
275 |
The Flint Mines near Brandon |
276 |
The Implement Manufactory at Cissbury |
278 |
Commerce |
280 |
Navigation |
281 |
Warfare and Camps |
282 |
Britain occupied by Tribal Communities |
283 |
Burial of Dead |
284 |
Belief in a Future State |
287 |
General Conclusions as to Neolithic Culture in Britain |
290 |
Neolithic Civilisation on the Continent |
290 |
The Pile-Dwellings of Switzerland |
291 |
The Domestic Animals and Cultivated Plants |
295 |
The Shell-mounds of Denmark |
302 |
The Neolithic Art |
305 |
„ Civilisation derived from Central Asia |
306 |
General Conclusions |
307 |
CHAPTER IX.
THE NEOLITHIC INHABITANTS OF BRITAIN OF IBERIAN RACE.
Physique |
309 |
Range over British Isles |
310 |
„ on the Continent |
313 |
Identification with the Iberian Race |
314 |
Celtic Invasion of Gaul and Spain in the Neolithic Age |
315 |
Historic Evidence as to Iberic and Celtic Races in Spain and Gaul |
317 |
The Iberic Race in Retreat |
320 |
„„ the Older |
321 |
Historic Evidence as to Iberic and Celtic Races in Britain |
321 |
Relation of Iberians to Ligures and Etruskans |
322 |
Iberic Element in the Present Population of Spain |
323 |
„ Celtic, and other Elements in the Population of France |
324 |
„ Element in the British Isles |
330 |
The Witness of Language |
331 |
Traces of Neolithic Culture in Basque Dialects |
334 |
Survivals from the Neolithic Age |
335 |
Neolithic Superstitions still current in Europe |
338 |
General Conclusions |
340 |
CHAPTER X.
THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE.—THE BRONZE AGE.
Celtic Invasion of the British Isles |
342 |
Classification of the Bronze Age in Britain |
344 |
The Axe in Culture |
349 |
Habitations in Britain and Ireland in the Bronze Age |
352-354 |
Clothing and Ornaments |
355 |
Lighting Fires and Woodcutting |
358 |
Spinning and Weaving |
359 |
Agriculture and Farming |
360 |
Pottery, Cups of Gold and Amber |
360 |
Bronze Working |
362 |
Weapons and Warfare |
364 |
Burial Customs |
366 |
Temples |
371 |
Artistic Designs |
378 |
France and Switzerland in the Bronze Age |
379 |
The Early Bronze Age |
380 |
The Late Bronze Age |
381 |
Hoards of Bronze Merchandise |
383 |
Hoards of the Bronze-smith |
384 |
Lake-dwellings of Late Bronze Age |
388 |
Scandinavia in the Bronze Age |
389 |
Sculptures |
392 |
General Conclusions |
396 |
CHAPTER XI.
THE INTRODUCTION OF BRONZE, AND OF THE BRONZE CIVILISATION, INTO EUROPE.
No Copper Age in Europe |
397 |
Copper Mines worked in Britain and Spain in the Bronze Age |
399 |
Tin-stone often associated with Gold |
400 |
Tin in Scandinavia, Germany, and Britain |
402 |
Tin Mines worked in France and Spain in the Bronze Age |
403 |
Tin Mines in Tuscany worked by the Etruskans |
405 |
Probable Sources of Assyrian and Egyptian Tin |
407 |
Bronze introduced into Europe from one Centre |
410 |
Knowledge of Bronze derived from Asia Minor |
412 |
The Early Bronze Implements in Europe |
413 |
The Development of the Bronze Industry in the late Bronze Age |
413 |
Local Centres of Bronze Industry in the late Bronze Age |
414 |
Distribution of Gold in Europe |
416 |
Distribution of Amber in Europe |
417 |
The Duration of the Bronze Age north of the Alps |
420 |
Commercial Relations of Britain in the Bronze Age |
421 |
CHAPTER XII.
THE PREHISTORIC IRON AGE NORTH OF THE ALPS.
Definition of the Iron Age |
423 |
The Introduction of Iron into Europe |
423 |
The Prehistoric Iron Age in Britain |
426 |
Arms and Equipage |
426 |
Personal Ornaments |
428 |
Burial Customs |
429 |
The Late Celtic Art |
434 |
The Etruskan Influence on the Art |
436 |
The Influence of Ancient Greece |
436 |
Coins and Commerce |
438 |
The Prehistoric Iron Age on the Continent North of the Alps |
439 |
The Prehistoric Iron Age in Scandinavia |
440 |
Survival of the Late Celtic Art into the Historic Period in Britain |
443 |
CHAPTER XIII.
THE OVERLAP OP HISTORY.
The Egyptians and their Influence |
447 |
The Assyrians and their Influence |
450 |
The Phœnicians and their Influence |
451 |
The Phœnicians possessed no Art of their own |
455 |
The Position of the Phœnicians in the West |
456 |
The Spread of Phœnician Commerce to Britain |
457 |
The Etruskans and their Influence |
462 |
The Etruskan Trade-Routes to the Amber Coasts |
466 |
Traces of Etruskan Influence North of the Alps |
469 |
The Downfall of the Etruskan Trade |
471 |
The Greeks and their Influence |
473 |
The Trade-Route from Olbia |
473 |
„„ Massilia |
475 |
The Voyage of Pytheas |
477 |
General Conclusions |
479 |
CHAPTER XIV.
BRITAIN IN THE HISTORIC PERIOD.—CONCLUSION.
The Exploration of the British Coasts |
481 |
Physical Geography and Climate |
482 |
Population at the time of the Roman Conquest |
485 |
Roman Britain |
488 |
The English Conquest |
490 |
The English Breed of Cattle |
491 |
The Extinction of the Larger Wild Animals |
493 |
Conclusion |
494 |
APPENDICES.
A. Of Britain |
501 |
B. Of France |
502 |
A. The Lower Meiocene Mammalia of France |
505 |
B. The Mid-Meiocene Mammalia of France |
506 |
C. The Upper Meiocene Mammalia of the Continent |
509 |
A. Lower Pleiocene Mammalia of France |
511 |
B. Upper Pleiocene Mammalia of France |
512 |
C. The Pleiocene Mammalia of Italy |
513 |

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1926.
The author died in 1929, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.