pierced from both faces, (see disk of Fig. 21.) In every instance the hole is smooth throughout and very little contracted, nor is it unusual to meet with the core or lump which corresponds to the cavity. The patience, perseverance, and skill required to execute the perforation of such an object cannot but occasion surprise, especially when performed without the help of metal. It was perhaps effected by means of very thin flakes of silex fixed around a stock which was made to turn in such a way as to separate a portion of the stone which, when the perforation was accomplished, would fall to the ground. Precaution was observed to enlarge the hammer at the place where the hole for receiving the handle was situated, yet accidents would still occur, as is testified by the fragments of those broken in the operation which are much more numerous than entire ones. It might be that the instrument of perforation was fixed, and the hammer itself made to revolve, as with our stationary graving implements. Figures 13 and 14 represent a specimen in our collection. Like others of the

same type, it is perfectly unworn, which would seem to indicate that it was rather a symbol of command than a weapon. We have seen one, however, in the collection of Dr. Clement, which bears distinct traces of use.

*It would be more simple to suppose that the piercing was effected by means of a cylinder or hollow tube. But this would imply the use of metal, and would assign our hammers to the age of bronze, while as yet we know them as only pertaining to the age of stone. A discovery has just been made of some very fine ones in the palafitte of Greng, on Lake Morat, where there exists not a trace of metal. M. Lachmann mentions not less than fifty of them at the station of Nussdorf, (see Keller, 6th Report, p. 217,) which pertains to the age of stone, though it is true that some have been found in the palafitte of Unteruhdingen which is of the age of bronze. From the researches of M. Ley we learn that at the station of Bodman (small lake of Constance) the hammer hatchets are limited to the upper archæological stratum, while they are wanting in the lower; whence the author feels authorized to claim for these primitive tribes a progress in civilization during the period of stone.

*

Neither are hatchets rare; we possess them by dozens. A hard stone was chosen, preferably an erratic pebble of diorite, serpentine, quartzite, or saussurite, to which they managed to give an edge, (Fig. 15.) This was afterwards introduced into a socket made of buck-horn, which was itself cut in such a manner as to adopt itself to a handle of wood, (Fig. 16.) The sockets are quite frequently met with in certain localities, among others at Concise, but it is rare to find the two, (the hatchet in its socket,) and still more rare to possess the complete instrument, (hatchet, socket, and handle.) Dr. Clement has one of

the most complete specimens in existence, (Fig. 17;) it was derived from Concise. At other times the stone was inserted at the extremity of a portion of

buck-horn, which was pierced with a hole to receive a handle. The hatchet was supported against this handle, which prevented the wood from splintering. This instrument, which served at once as hatchet and hammer, (Fig. 18,) ranked, but a few months since, among the rare objects of our tenevieres. Now, thanks to the persistent researches of Dr. Clement, several dozens are known, representing the utensil in every state, from the rude outline to the complete instrument. At other times the hatchet is found simply attached to the extremity of a stag's antler; we know, however, but one specimen, being that in the collection of Dr. Clement, which is here represented. Along with the hatchets are found other

As is justly remarked by M. Demour, it is impossible not to be struck by the sagacity with which these ancient people selected materials which, with the exception of the metals, unite in the highest degree the three properties of density, hardness, and tenacity, conditions essential to the use and duration of these implements. (Comptes Rendus, August, 1865.)

stones cut smaller, fixed in simple fragments of buck-horn, and serving rather for chisels or paring-knives than for hatchets, properly so called. That repre

Figure 19.

at Saint Aubin. Most of these singular stones are set in the same manner. *It is a characteristic distinction between our hatchets of the age of stone and those of anterior ages that the former are always worn down by sharpening on the grindstone, so as to present a very regular edge, which is never the case with the hatchets of Abbeville, of the caverns, nor those of the Kjoekkenmoedings of Denmark, which are simply cut by chopping.

Apart from these utensils, which are common to almost all savage tribes, we recognize, among our lacustrians of the age of stone, the beginnings of an art which attests the dawn of civilization. They manufactured pottery, somewhat shapeless and rude it is true, but which is not the less interesting, as well for its composition as its form and dimensions. It consists for the most part of large protuberant vessels, fashioned with the hand, the wheel of the potter being not yet known. The paste of which it is composed is but slightly homogeneous,

*It has been recently remarked that, in general, none but small hatchets of stone are found provided with handles, which would seem to warrant the conclusion that the largest, some of which weigh as much as two pounds, were not used with handles, but immediately with the hand. (Lachmann, 6th report of Dr. Keller, p. 277.)

gray or black, never red, and always intermixed with small siliceous pebbles, doubtless to guard against the defects of unequal and imperfect baking.

In default of silex they also employed limestone, and sometimes fragments of shell, or even charcoal. The large vases are protuberant, the small ones cylindrical, more or less contracted or rounded towards the base, but without being conical like those of the age of bronze; hence the earthen supports or rings, which, in that period, were used to keep the vessels upright, do not as yet occur in this. It is not unusual to distinguish marks of the fingers, especially at the base, (Fig. 196.) Others are furnished with a sort of handle or rude projection intended to facilitate the handling or carriage, (Fig. 19a;) this lat

Figure 19a.

Figure 196. ter is rarer. In the specimen given the impression of the fingers of the potter may be recognized. With regard to the black color, it was obtained perhaps. by smoking, or, as is more probable, by introducing grease into the paste, as is done, we are told, by the potters of Peru.

Figure 20.

The prints of the fingers are very small, which would seem to indicate a race of diminutive size, unless we are to suppose them to have been made by women, and we know that among certain tribes, (the Kabyles, for instance) it is the women who manufacture the pottery. From time to time vessels are met with composed of a paste less coarse and exhibiting rudiments of ornamentation, (Fig. 20.)

There is sufficient reason for supposing that these jars served, like those of the age of bronze, for the preservation of food. Along with those earthen vessels occur others, not less interesting and more characteristic, constructed out of the horns of the stag. They hollowed the horn at the place of its insertion, where it becomes enlarged, and formed of it small and not ungraceful vessels, usually pierced with a hole on one side; of these, several specimens, derived from the lakes of Neuchâtel and Moossedorf, are known to us; we select for representation that from the collection of Dr. Clement, (Fig. 20a.)

Figure 20a

This savant has discovered at Concise another small vase, made from a piece of stag's horn, but of different form, and thus far unique in its kind. It is cylindrical, with two small handles, doubtless intended for the passage of a strap for suspension.

A certain number of utensils are scattered on the surface of the tenevieres, such as hatchets, lances, hammers, sometimes also fragments of coarse pottery, which

are then covered with a tufaceous incrustation formed by the perennial deposit of the lake. Most of the objects, however, are buried in the soil, and to obtain them it is necessary to dig and dredge in the teneviere. It is thus that Dr. Clement proceeds, in order to collect the varied objects with which he every day enriches his admirable collection.

These objects are not dispersed at hazard in the interior of the teneviere. They are found preferably at a depth of from 1 to 2 feet, intermingled with fragments of cut wood, bits of charcoal and bones of animals, which constitute a kind of repository, like those of fossils in geological formations. This is the archæological stratum. It is not unusual to encounter several of these strata or repositories in the same teneviere. Dr. Clement has recognized two very distinct ones in the teneviere of St. Aubin, while it appears that M. Messikommer has distinguished even three at Kobenhausen. (See 6th Report of M. Keller, p. 247, for a profile of this station.)

Stones for grinding, (commonly known as mills,) which occur in considerable numbers in the tenevieres, many having a diameter of 60 centimetres, indicate that the grain was triturated with the help of rounded pestles. These last, as well as the mill-stones, were of granite or grit, never of limestone. It was scarcely to have been expected that we should have discovered the products of this primitive contrivance; nor have the stations of our lake furnished anything of the kind. But it is otherwise in eastern Switzerland, where have been found the remains of the bread eaten by our predecessors, and which have been preserved by carbonization.

In all likelihood some traffic was carried on with the neighboring countries, especially with those situated on the borders of Jura, whence doubtless the silex was derived. In the stations of eastern Switzerland it is usual to cite, as proof of a local commerce, the presence at Kobenhausen of micaceous schists, of parti-colored grit of Rheinfelden, of crystals of the Alps, of asphaltum of Valde Travers, of white marble of Splügen, &c. M. Keller even describes and delineates a small vase of asphaltum found at Kobenhausen. (6th Report, p. 251.) But we cannot share the opinion which attributes extensive commercial relations to the tribes of the age of stone. In support of this opinion are cited the hatchets of nephrite, of which numbers are found at Concise and other stations of that epoch; and as this stone now comes to us from the east, it has been inferred that the tribes of the remote period in question trafficked with Asia. But it should be remembered that the greater part of the hatchets which are assumed to be nephrite may very well be only varieties of indigenous rocks, proceeding from siliceous veins in the serpentine, and whose depository might be found, according to M. de Mortillet, in the higher Maurienne.† It seems to us very difficult to admit that so distant a commerce should have been restricted to the exchange of certain stones which, after all, are not very superior to common silex, while the east might have furnished objects of far greater utility, particularly metals.

It is proper, however, to mention here a recent communication of M. de Fellenberg to the Society of Natural Sciences of Berne, in which that accomplished chemist gives an account of a series of analyses which he has made of five fragments of nephrite from the lakes of Switzerland, three of which are

*There is some interest in regard to authenticity in not removing this crust, even where it impairs the beauty of the object.

+ Materiaux pour l'histoire positive et philosophique de l'homme, 1865, p. 231.-M. Nauman (Elements de Mineralogie, p. 305) mentions nephrite as occurring among the erratic blocks of Saxony, (Schwensal near Duben,) which are known to have proceeded from Scandinavia.

Mitteilungen der Bern. naturforschenden Gesellschaft, 1865.