period，stilllessthoseofearlierepochs，knewhowtomakepottery。Thefirstexplorers，headds，didnotalwaysdistinguishwithsufficientcarethevestigesofdifferentepochs，therelicsofdiverseorigins。Howoftenhavebonescarriedalongbywater，orbroughtwheretheyarefoundbyanimals，beenmixedwiththoseabandonedbymen，orthedepositsoftheNeolithicperiodwiththoseoftheearliestQuaternarytimes!Howoftenhavethecontentsofapassagegivingaccesstoacavebeenconfoundedwiththoseofthecaveitself!Hencedeplorableerrors，whichitisimpossibletorectifynow。EvansandGeikieintheirturnasserttheabsenceinEngland[99]ofPalaeolithicpottery，andSirJ。Lubbockenergeticallymaintainsthisopinion。
　　Doubtlessthesearegreatauthorities，andyet，inviewofthefactsnowknown，itisdifficulttobelievethatmanwaslongastrangertotheartofmakingpottery。Itsinventionrequirednogreateffortofintelligence，anditsfabricationpresentednogreatdifficulties。Manhadbuttokneadthesoftclaywhichhetrodunderhisfoot，andtheplasticityofwhichhecouldnotfailtonotice。Thisclayhardenedinthesun，andhollowswereformedasitshrunk——thefirstvesselwasdiscovered!Experiencesoontaughtmantoreplacetheheatofthesunbythatofthefire，andtoaddafewbitsofsomehardsubstancetogivetheclaygreaterconsistency。Thesefirstcrudeandclumsyvaseshavebeenpreservedtoourowndayasirrefutablewitnessestotheworkofourancestors。Though，therefore，wecannotbesurethatpotterywasmadeinQuaternarytimesbyalltheracesthatpeopledEurope，[100]itisimpossibletodenythatagreatmanyofthemwereinpossessionoftheart。Thisdifferenceinthedegreeofcivilizationattainedtobymenlivingbutshortdistancesfromeachotherneednotsurpriseus，foralltravellersreportsimilarfactsamongstcontemporarysavageraces。
　　Thebakingofpotteryisaproofthattheuseoffirewasknowninthemostremotetimes。Theexistenceinvariousplacesofmassesofcinders，fragmentsofcharredwood，andhalf-calcinedbones，provesityetmoredecidedly。AtSolutre，atLouverneMayenne，atSaint-FlorentCorsica，togivebutafewexamples，wefindlargeslabsofhalf-calcinedstone，laidflatandcoveredwithheapsofcindersandallsortsofrubbish。Theseslabsformedthefamilyhearth，wheremanpreparedhisfood，withthehelpofthefirehehadlearnttoigniteandtokeepburning。
　　Howdidmanarriveatadiscoverysovitaltohisexistence？TheVedasassigntheoriginoffiretotherubbingtogetherinastormofthedrybranchesoftrees。“Thefirstmen，“saysVitruvius，[101]“wereborn，aswereotheranimals，intheforests，caves，andwoods。Thethicktreesviolentlyagitatedbythestormtookfire，throughtherubbingtogetheroftheirbranches；thefuryoftheflamesterrifiedthemenwhofoundthemselvesnearthemandmadethemtaketoflight。Soonreassured，however，theygraduallyapproachedagainandrealizedalltheadvantagestheymightgainfortheirbodiesfromthegentlewarmthofthefire。Theyaddedfueltotheflames，theykeptthefireup，theyfetchedothermenwhomtheymadeunderstandbysignsalltheusefulnessofthisdiscovery。Thementhusassembledarticulatedafewsounds，which，repeatedeveryday，accidentallyformedcertainwordswhichservedtodesignateobjects，andsoontheyhadalanguagewhichenabledthemtospeakandtounderstandoneanother。Itwas，then，thediscoveryoffirewhichledmentocometogethertoformasociety，tolivetogether，andtoinhabitthesameplaces。“
　　WithoutpausingtoconsiderthesomewhatpueriletheoriesofVitruvius，orthemythswhichtestifytotheimportanceattachedtofirebyprimevalman，weareatlibertytosupposethataconflagrationcausedbylightningorbythespontaneouscombustionofvegetablematerialsinastateoffermentation，orothersimilarphenomena，madeknowntomanthepoweroffire，andtheuseitmightbetohim。Theaccidentalstrikingtogetheroftwoflintsproducedaspark；observationtaughtmentoobtainasimilarresultbythesameprocess；agreatstepinadvancewasmade，andthefutureofhumanitywasassured。M。DupontpickedupintheChaleuxCaveakidney-shapedpieceofironpyrites，hollowedoutinapeculiarmanner，whichhadevidentlybeenusedtoobtainthepreciousspark。TheChristycollectioncontainsagranitepebblewithaholetheshapeofacup，whichhadevidentlybeenusedtoobtainfire，byrubbingroundinitastickofverydrywood。Thetwomethodsemployedatthepresentdaywerethereforealreadyinuse。LumholztellsusthattheAustraliansofHerbertRivergetfirebyrubbingtwopiecesofwoodtogether。TheIndiansofthenorthwestofColorado，theYapaisoftheCarolineIslands，andtheMincopiesoftheAndamanIsles，withmanyotherraces，knownootherprocess。Wemust，however，stillmaintainacertainreserveindealingwiththefire-obtainingimplementsofsoimperfectanature，andbelongingtotimessoremoteasthosecalledprehistoric。
　　Duringbadseasons，orinthebittercoldofwinter，primevalmancontentedhimselfwithflingingoverhisshoulderstheskinsoftheanimalshehadkilled。Hepreparedtheseskinswithflintscrapers，andsewedthemtogetherwithboneneedles。Inhotweathermanprobablyroamedaboutstarknaked。Shameisnotanaturalinstinct；educationalonedevelopsit。Writingin1617，FynesMorisonspeaksofhavingseenatCorkyounggirlsquitenaked，engagedincrushingcornwithastone。TheTchoutchiwomen，saysNordenskiold，wearnoclotheswhenintheirtents，howevergreatthecold。Intropicalcountriesmen，women，andchildren，allcompletelynude，wenttomeetthetravellerswholandedontheirshores。CountUrsel，inarecentjourneyinBolivia，ingoingthroughalittletown，saw“nearthepublicfountainsomeyounggirlsalreadygrowingupmakingtheirablutionsandplayingaboutinthegarboftheearthlyparadise。“TravellerswhovisitedJapanafewyearsagoreportedthattheinhabitants，withoutdistinctionofageorsex，cameoutofthewaterinastateofcompletenudity，presentingastrangespectacletoEuropeaneyes。Thesightofwhatisactuallygoingonamongstcomparativelycivilizedpeopleinourowndayenablesustounderstandbetterwhatmusthavebeenthestateofthingswhenthewholeworldwasinastateofbarbarism。
　　Itwasnotuntilmuchlater，inthetimestowhichthenameofNeolithichasbeengiven，thatmenmadestuffs，andreplacedtheskinsofanimalsbylighterandmoreflexiblegarments。TheinhabitantsoftheLakeStationsofSwitzerlandandofItalycultivatedhemp。AtWangenandatRobenhausenhavebeenfoundshredsofcoarselywovencloth，andatLagozzafragmentsofyetmoreprimitivematerial。Onsomeofthesepiecesitissupposedthattracesoffringeandattemptsatornamentationhavebeenmadeout。EveninthePerigordcavesLartetnoticedsomelongslimneedleswhichcouldnothavebeenusedforsewingskins；andheconcludedthattheywereintendedformoredelicatework，perhapsevenforembroidery。Anewart，andonewhichwecertainlyshouldnothaveexpectedtofindisnowmetwithforthefirsttime。
　　Itisprobablethatoursavageancestorstatooedthemselves，orpaintedtheirbodies，asdidtheBritonsinthetimeofCaesar，andasdomodernsavages，or，nottogosofarafield，asdoEnglishsailorsandsomeoftheworkingmenofFrance。[102]AtMontastruchavebeenpickedupsomefragmentsofredchalk，andinMayenneofredironore，whilstinthecaveofSpywasfoundabonefilledwithaveryfineredpowder，andinthatofSaltpetrieresomepowderofthesamekindwasdiscoveredpreservedfromdestructioninashell。LartetandChristyhavemadesimilardiscoveriesinthecavesoftheDordogne；M。DupontinashelteratChaleux，andM。RiviereatBaousse-Rousse。TheAbbeBourgeoisfoundatVillehonneurnotonlyapieceofredchalkasbigasanut，butalsoanoval-shapedpebble，whichhadbeenusedforgrindingit，theintersticesofthesurfacestillretainingtracesofcoloringmatter。
　　Redchalkwasnottheonlysubstanceemployed。AtChatelperron，werepickedupfragmentsofmanganese；atCuevadeRocca，nearValentia，piecesofcinnabar；inthePlacardCave，bitsofblacklead；andinthedifferentstationsinthePyrenees，especiallyinthatofAurensan，ochrehasbeenfoundwhichwasdoubtlessusedforthesamepurpose。AtSolutre，ochre，manganese，andgraphitewerefound；
　　thelastnamedhadbeenscrapedwithaflint，andthescratchesmadebyitarestilldistinctlyvisible。FromaWestphaliancave，Schaafhausentooksomedarkyellowochre；atCasternStaffordshire，abitofthissamecalcareoussubstance，wornwithlongservice，waspickedtip；inCantireArgyleshire，apieceofredhematite，whichhadevidentlybeenbroughtfromWestmorelandorLancashire；
　　andlastly，inKent’sHolewasfoundsomeperoxideofmanganese。
　　Allthesefragmentsofochreormanganese，redchalkorblacklead，werereducedtopowderwiththehelpofpebbles，artificiallyhollowedout。Everywherewemeetwiththeseprimitivemortars，andsidebysidewiththemotherpebblesintheirnativecondition，whichhadevidentlybeenusedforcrushingthecoloringmatter。
　　Arecentdiscoverytendstoconfirmthehypothesisthatthesecolorswereusedforthedecorationofthehumanbody。Acuriousengravingonabonerepresentstheheadandarmofaman，andonthelowerpartoftheforearmitiseasytomakeoutafour-sideddesignwhichevidentlyindicatedtatooing。
　　Ineverycountry，andineveryclimate，wefindmenaswellaswomenmanifestingatasteforornament。Theprogressofcivilizationhasgreatlyincreasedthistaste，butitexistedasanaturalinstinctintheveryearliestdaysofhumanity，andthecontemporaryofthemammothandthecave-bear，thecave-mancoweringinhismiserableden，soughtforornamentswithwhichtodeckhimself。Inthecavesnearthestationsoccupiedbyprimevalmenwefindlittlebitsoffossilcoral，beadsofhardenedclay，theteethofbears，wolves，andfoxes，boars’
　　tusks，andthejawbonesofsmallmammals，fish-bones，andbelemnitespiercedwithholes，andintendedtobeusedasamuletsorornamentstobewornroundtheneck。AtLafaye，wefindtheincisorsofsmallrodentsservingthesamepurpose。ThedwellerintheSordesCaveownedapreciousnecklacemadeoffortybears’andthreelions’teeth。Theteethfoundoftenhaveonthemornamentallines，whichdoubtlessindicatedtherankorcelebratedthedeedsofthechief。TheAbbeBourgeoisdescribessomestags’teethfoundatVillehonneurCharente，twoofwhichborescratcheswhichmayhavehadsomesignification。AtCro-Magnonwerepickedupsomeivoryplaquespiercedwiththreeholes；atKent’sbolewerefoundsomeovaldisksmeasuringfivebythreeinches，whichinthedelicacyoftheirworkmanshippresentedacuriouscontrasttotheotherobjectstakenfromthesamecave。IntheBelgiancavesherepickedupsomethinslicesofjetandsomeivoryplaques，andinthoseofthesouthofFrancefragmentsofsteatite，cutintorectangularandlozengeshapes，whilstintheThayngenCavewasfoundapendantofligniteFig。27。Menwerenotcontentwithnaturalproducts；fashiondemandednewformsandfreshmaterials。
　　1。Lignitependant。2。BonependantThayngenCave。
　　ButwhatmostattractedtheattentionoftheancientinhabitantsofFrancewerebright-coloredshells。ThecavesofRoquemaurehaveyieldednearlyathousanddisksandbeadsmadeofcockle-shells；
　　atCro-Magnonmorethanthreehundredshellswerepickedupwhichformedacollarornecklace，whichwasnothoweversovaluableasthatofthemanofSordes。M。deMaretdiscoveredatPlacardnumerousshells；somebelongingtooceanspeciesstillextant，andothersfossilsofformsnowextinct。Manyofthemareforeigntothecountryinwhichtheywerefound。FromthemostremotetimesthereforetheinhabitantsofthepresentdepartmentofCharentefishedintheGulfofGascony，crossedAquitania，visitedtheshellmarldepositsofAnjouandTouraine，andpenetratedasfarasthepresentParisbasin。ThefindingoftheCYPRINAISLANDICAinoneoftheFrenchcavesprovesthattheprehistoricmenofFranceevenwentasfarawayasthenorthofEngland。Thisisbynomeansanisolatedfact；
　　numerousshellsfromthedepartmentofChampagnehadbeentakentotireshoresoftheLesseandtheMeuse。AtSolutrehavebeenfoundbelemnites，ammonites，andMioceneshells，whichwerecertainlynevernativetothatdistrict，withpiecesofrock-crystalfromtheAlps，andbeadsmadeofajadeiteofunknownorigin。
　　InScotlandhavebeenfoundnecklacesofneritesandlimpets；
　　atAurignac，eighteenlittleplaquesofcockleshellpiercedwithholesinthecentre。AtLaugerie-Basse，amanovertakenbyalandsliphadbeencrushedbythestoneswhichhadfallenuponhim；timehasdestroyedhisclothes，buttheshellswithwhichhehaddeckedhimselfarestillpreserved。[103]Hehadwornfouronhisforehead，twooneachshoulder，fouroneachknee，andtwooneachfoot。Allideaoftheseshellshavingformedanecklacemustbeabandoned；theywereallnotched，andhadbeenusedeither。toadornorfastentheclothes。
　　Themostinterestingdiscoveries，however，werethosemadeinthecavesofBaousse-Rousse，ofwhichwehavesooftenspoken。M。Rivierepickeduptheskeletonsoftwochildren，somethousandshellsNASSANERITEA
　　artificiallypierced，whichhadbeenusedtodecktheirgarments：Nearanadultwereothershellsforminganecklace，abracelet，anamulet，andagarterwornontheleftleg；whilstontheheadwasaregularRESILLEornet，notunlikethatoftheSpanishnationalcostume，whichnetwasmadeofsmallneritashellsandkeptinplacebybonepins。