On the Continuity of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic Periods Author(s): Allen Brown Source: The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 22 (1893), pp. 65-98 Published by: Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2842113 . Accessed: 14/06/2014 14:42 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 91.229.229.205 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:42:22 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions List of Presents. 65 From the PUBLISHER.-Marriageand Disease. By S. A. K. Strahan,M.D. 8vo. (Kegan Paul, Trench,Triibner, and Co.) London,1892. pp. viii,326. English-Italianand Italian-EnglishDictionary. By B. Melzi. 8vo. (Hirsehfeld.) London,1892. pp. 608. From thjeGOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.-Statistics of the Colony ofNew Zealand for the year 1890. Fol Wellington,1891. pp. 391. From GEORGE W. BLOXAM, Esq.-The OjebwvayLangaage. By the Rev. Edward F. Wilson. Sq. Tt. Toronto,n.d. pp. 412. From the ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES DE CRACOVIE.--Rocznik Zar- zadu. 1889. Pamietnik Wydzialu matematyczno-przyrod- niczego. T. 18. Rozprawy Wydzialu matematyozno- przyrodniczego. Ser. ii. Tom. 1, 3. From the BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENTOF SCIENCE. -Report, 1891. From the GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION.-Proceedings. Vol. xii. No. 6. From the EDITOR.-The American Antiquarian. Vol. xiv. No. 1. - Bullettino di Paletnologia Italiana. Tom. vi. N. ll e 12. Nature. Nos. 1165, 1166. - Revue Scientifique. Tom. xlix. Nos. 9, 10. - Science. Nos. 469, 470. From the AUSTRALIANMUSEUM.-Records. Vol. i. No. 10. Froni the ANTHROPOLOGICALSOCIETY OF BOAIBAY.-Journal. Vol. ii. No. 6. From the ANTHEOPOLOGISCHIE GESELLSCHIAFT IN WIEN.-Mfittheiluu- gen. Band xxi. Heft 4 bis 6. Froni thie DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FUR ANTHEROPOLOGIE,ETHNOLOGIE, UND URGESCIIICHTE.-Archiv fairAnthropologie. Band xix. Heft 4. From the ROYAL GEOGRAPHICALSOCIETY.-Proceedings. Vol. xiv. No. 3. From the ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGR.APBICAL SoCIETY.-The Scottish Geographical Mlagazine. Vol. viii. No. 3. From the ROYAL SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF IRELAND.-Journalof the Proceedings. Vol. i. No. 8. From the SOC1MTE D'ARCi?OLOGIE DE BRUXELLES. -Annuaire. 1892. From the SOCIETY OFANTIQUAr,IEs.-Proceedings. Vol. xiii. No. 4. From the SOCIETY OF ARTS.-Journal. Nos. 2049, 20D0. From the SOCTETY OF BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY.-Proceedings. Vol. xiv. No. 4. Mr. J. ALLEN BROWN read a paper on "'The continuityof the Palheolithicand NeolithicPeriods." VOL. XXII F This content downloaded from 91.229.229.205 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:42:22 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 66 J. ALLEN BROWN.-On theContinuity of the Prof.RUPERT JONES,Dr. H. WOODVWARD,and Dr. EDWARD B. TYLORjoined in the discussion,and the Authorreplied. A paper by the PIev. JAMIESMACDONALD on " East Central AfricanCustoms " was read. On theCONTINUITY of thePALMOLITHIC and NEOLITHIC PERIODS. By JNO. ALLEN BROWN,F.G.S., &c. 19ntroductory. IT has been generallyassumed that a break occurredbetween the periodsduring which this country and, in fact,the continent of Europe was inhabitedby PalkeolithicMan and his Neolithic successor,and that the race or races -ofPaleolithic folkwlho hunted the elephant, rhinoceros,cave bear, hippopotamus, reindeer,urus, bison, &c., were completelyseparated as by a chasm fromthe agriculturalpeople, the herdsmenwith their oxen and sheep, and the tillers of the soil of the so-called Neolithic epoch,implying that man in Britain had changed suddenlyfrom a low savage huunterto a half-civilisedfarmer and drover. No physical causes,no adequate reasons have in fact ever been assignedfor such a hiatus in human existence,certainly the geologist can offerno evidencein support of it. Some writers?have stuggestedthat the man of the drift period was entirely exterminatedby the better-armedinvading Neo- lithicrace; others suppose him to have become extinct like the tichorinerhinoceros and inammoth,but why he should have fared worse than the reindeerand other creatureswho survived,it would be hard to imagine. The originaldivisioll of thestone age into twodistincet periods may howeverbe accounted for; in the firstplace, up to the time whenM. de Perthes and Dr. Rigolletmade the discovery of the earlier relics of man, the stone age was only represented by polishedcelts and the well markedhighly-finished chipped specimenis;these formeda strikingcontrast with the rudely- fashionledpoilnted and oval implementswhich at firstwere found,and fora long timewere the only driftforms believed to be of hunian origin. Gradually,however, other tools and implementshaving their analoguesin the Neolithic,or surfaceperiod, were met within This content downloaded from 91.229.229.205 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:42:22 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Palaolithic and NeolithicPeriods. 67 the driftgravels and brick earths,and as the contentsof caves and rock shelterswere exanmined,it became evident that they wereaccumulated at differentperiods, and with minor excep- tionslong afterthe depositionof the oldest valley driftof the Tharnesor the Somme. Anotherreason nmaybe foundin our want of knowledge, untilcomparatively recently, of later Quaternarygeology- .e. of the origin,formation and sequence of the deposits which followedthe deposition of thehigh level implementiferousdrifts, suchas the brickearths, head and rubble,and otheraccumula- tions which bring down geological evidence to the historical period. The inivestigationsof ProfessorPrestwich and others have thrownmuch lighton tlle depositsof later date than the riverdrift, and withthem, as will be seen,the relics of man are associated,tooether with evidence of the gradual extinctionof someanimals and the retreatof others. Withthese changes came alterationsin the typesand formsof stoneimnplements, and if thelatest are comparedwith the earliest formsthe differenceis very striking;but wlhena large series fromdifferent levels ofvalley drift and eaves,and fromthe surface is studiedthe evolutionof the illorerecent from the olderforms is apparent,and a continuityis evidentbetween thema all. The supposed break in the continuityof the stone age in this countryis bridged by the discoveryof inmplementsof later Paleolithic type and of others wbicihfrom their formmay be regardedas of tranisitionor intermediateage, in som-lecombes and dry valleys associated with deposits of chalk anid flint rubblein parts of Sussex, as well as with other accumulations and formationsto which I shall referas being of mnorerecent datethan the high level river drifts. The gradual change in mammalian life which appears to have accompanied these higherstages of the stonieage will also be considered. The French aind Belgian geologists,whose countrieshave affordedthem much bettermaterial for studyingthis question than we have in England,are divided in opinion as to the continiuityor otherwiseof thePalaeolithic anld Neolithic periods. M. G. de Mortilletand M. Cartaillbaeamome others lhave asserted that a great break exists betweenithemii, when the subjectis consideredfrom the three points of view of etlhnology, pahleontology,and workmanshipwhile MMtI.d'Archiac, Quatre- fages,Dupont, Joly,Lazalis de Fondouce,and manvyothers, have statedthat there is evidence of continuitybetweeni these so- called epochs both as to the fauna and also as to the gradual advance in skill and knowledg,eof the fabricatorsof stone weaponsand tools. M. Jolv assertsthere is a direct filiation between the ruder worknmanshipof the St. Aclheuland other F 2 This content downloaded from 91.229.229.205 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:42:22 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 68 J. ALLENBROWN.-On the Continuity of the high level drifts and the more skilled handiwork of the Neolithicperiod. AlthoughI shall have occasionto menitionother localities in which implementsof Paleolithic type have been discovered,I wish to drawspecial attentionto the valleys and combesat and in the vicinityof East Dean, near Eastbourne, Sussex, as a districtin which during the last few years flintimplements have been found(associated with othersof later date) whicb,if they had been met with in river driftand thus acquired the usual gravel-stainedsurface, would have been undistinguishable frommany of the riverdrift specimens. The districtof East Dean is in a deep chalk valley with a gradual slope from the village of that name to the coast at Birling Gap. The valley widens in severalplaces between the sea and the village,and severalnarrow transverse valleys lead into it, the generaldip of whichis also towardsthe sea. The high chalk hills forman importantwatershed to these lines of drainage. At Birling Gap thereis a low cliffabout 25 to 30 feet hiigh, throughwhich a cutting leads to the beach. The section at this spot has the appearanceat firstsight of an old riverchaninel extendingabout 350 or 400 feet in the cliff. This