Page:Palæolithic Man and Terramara Settlements in Europe.djvu/179

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FOSSIL MAN (BRITAIN AND BELGIUM)
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well lighted. Among the objects from this site are two which show that the troglodytes in this locality had some knowledge of art, viz., a small figurine in human form sculptured from a portion of a reindeer horn (PI. XXVIII., No. 5), and another portion of the same material engraved with incised lines, forming some kind of ornament (Fig. 25, No. 5).

Among other caves from which interesting relics were obtained may be mentioned the Trou du Sureau. Besides flint implements this cave yielded a dart split at the base like that regarded as characteristic of the station of Aurignac, in France (Fig. 25, No. 2).

M. Dupont advocated, on archæological and palæontological grounds, that the inhabitants who left remains of their handiworks in the open-air stations of Belgium were contemporary with those who frequented the neighbouring caverns. In support of this opinion he argues that the alluvial deposits of Mesvin, situated 20 metres above the river Nouvelles, have furnished bones of the following animals :— Ursus spelæus, Felis spelæa, Elephas primigenius, Rhinoceros tichorhinus, Equus cabalhis, Cervus megaceros, C. tarandus, Bison europæus. These eight animals are also represented in the alluvial deposits within the caverns. It is not less significant that this fauna has only changed, subsequent to the formation of these fluviatile deposits in the caverns, as proved by their contents when excavated in the valley of the Lesse (C.A.P., 1872, p. 461).

On Pl. XIII. are depicted a few specimens of flint implements from the lower deposits of Mesvin, and the caves of Goyet (Age du Mammouth) and Chaleux (Age du Renne), for the purpose of showing that the flint industry of Belgium was pretty similar to that of the river-drift beds and inhabited caves of England and Central Europe.

Les Hommes de Spy.

In 1886 two skeletons were found deeply buried in undisturbed débris at the entrance to a grotto called Belche-aux-Roches, at Spy-sur-l'Orneau, in the province of Namur. The interior of the grotto had been examined more than once, but in front of it there was a terrace, projecting 13 yards, which had not been previously excavated. It was in this terrace that