THE MONACO MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY BY ADELA C. BRETON The thirteenth session of the International Congress of Anthro pology and Prehistoric Archeology was held at Monaco under the presidency of Dr E. Hamy, from April 15 to 22. Among veterans of the science present were Sir John Evans and Messrs A. Gaudry, Cartailhac, Capellini, and Pigorini, while Dr Verneau, the Abbés de Villeneuve and Breuil, Professors Ọ. Montelius, E. Ray Lankester, S. Reinach, Rutot, Dr Capitan, Dr Arthur Evans, M. Boule, and many others contributed papers or took part in the discussions. The first morning meeting was devoted to eoliths and the Paleolithic period, but several papers which promised to be interesting were not read. M. Rutot described his own conversion from incredulity to belief in the human origin of eoliths. Sir John Evans asked where are the bones which should prove the case. Abbé Breuil noted the extreme rarity of any bones in the earlier gravels. Dr Bourlon gave an account of his digging at Le Moustier,' where he found Chellean implements in the second layer from the top, mixed with those of the Madelaine period. As from their patina they were evidently in situ, he thinks they are a later return. to the coups de poing, and that they did not (as had been suggested) fall from the plateau above. M. S. Reinach said that the Chellean implement once discovered (and it was "one of the great discoveries of the world") continued always, and other speakers agreed that they are found in later sites, having either been picked up and re-used, or the shape continued by subsequent makers. A visit was paid that afternoon to the caves of Baoussé-Roussé, a mile east from Menton, in the limestone cliff, about 25 feet above 1 See L'Homme Préhistorique, July, 1905. The mountains rise steeply above the caves, which face what was formerly the only coast road from France to Italy. the present sea level. The Abbé de Villeneuve and M. Boule described the Grotte du Prince on the spot. No human bones have yet been found in this cave, although there are about sixteen foyers, or hearths, with implements. The lower ones are as follows: The Grotte du Prince.—c (pl. xxvIII b'). Fauna of a cold climate, but archeologically Mousterian, as in D: Canis lupus, Hyæna spelæa, Cervus tarandus, Cervus (Dama) somonensis, Cervus elaphus, Bison priscus, Bos primigenius, Capra ibex, Ursus spelæus. D. In this series silex begins to replace the quartzite, grit, etc., used for implements in the lowest beds, and the hot period fauna ends. Hippopotamus amphibius, Rhinoceros merckii, Elephas antiquus, Equus caballus, Sus scrofa. A shell, Cassis rufa (Linn.), a species from the Indian ocean. E. The implements correspond with those of Tasmania. They resemble the Mousterian, but the flakes chipped on both sides, especially characteristic of Moustier, are absent, and the implements seem more advanced and developed. Barma Grande, the next cave, contains three skeletons found there. Then comes the Grotte du Cavillon (pl. XXVIIIC), where M. Rivière found the skeleton known as "L'Homme de Menton," now in the museum in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, preserved just as it was discovered. The Grotte des Enfants (pl. xxvIIIC), a little west from this, has given most interesting results, having been excavated, like the Grotte du Prince, at the expense of the Prince of Monaco, with the greatest precaution. B. The skeleton of a woman strewn over with shells; a rounded piece of natural iron near the right shoulder. c. The foyer des enfants, with children's skeletons discovered by M. Rivière. D. Contains very small and delicate implements, and flakes. E. Flakes and implements with notched sides; simple flakes with points skilfully obtained and often much retouched, very characteristic of the Paleolithic period. The accompanying plan and sections are reproduced from the drawings of M. Tschirret, under the direction of M. Boule and L'Abbé de Villeneuve, published in the guide leaflet issued by the Congress for the use of the excursionists. This cave was excavated by M. Jullien about 1884, but without sufficient care. |