An introduction to the study of social evolution; the prehistoric period . t cave uncovers humanlyfashioned stone tools under a thick stalagmite formation,we can only regard the undisturbed position of the im-plements as an indication of extreme age. Many primi-tive peoples to-day live upon shell-fish and leave the dis-carded shells near their dwellings. As time goes on thepile of shells accumulates. We call such heaps of shells,Kitchen-Middens. If now we find under suchkitchen-middens among the shells, rude unpolished spearheads, these implements must be at least as old as theaccumulation. In
An introduction to the study of social evolution; the prehistoric period . t cave uncovers humanlyfashioned stone tools under a thick stalagmite formation,we can only regard the undisturbed position of the im-plements as an indication of extreme age. Many primi-tive peoples to-day live upon shell-fish and leave the dis-carded shells near their dwellings. As time goes on thepile of shells accumulates. We call such heaps of shells,Kitchen-Middens. If now we find under suchkitchen-middens among the shells, rude unpolished spearheads, these implements must be at least as old as theaccumulation. In Tierra del Fuego (Elizabeth Island),there are kitchen-middens upon old beaches raised toconsiderable heights above the present sea-level, so an-cient that the shells of which they are composed are ex- 29 Giddings, op. fit., p. 211. 72 SOCIAL EVOLUTION tinct, or no longer the same as those in the But while the position in or under the driftwhich some glacier or glacial river has transported andfinally deposited in ever accumulating layers constitutes. From Birkner, Dcr Diluviale Jlciisch hi Europa, Figure 26. Diagram of Cvn-]N[agnon Orotto, where RemaiBS of Pre-historic Men wore found. quite conclusive evidence, the position under stalagmitebeds and kitchen-middens does not furnish as reliableproof of antiquity. The growth of stalagmite beds isirregular and depends upon conditions which are sub-ject to some variation. In the case of the kitchen-mid-den, some shells are accumulated with great rapidityso that in a comparatively short time a considerable pile 30Keane, op. cii., pp. 70-77, 96. THE ORICxTN AND ANTTQUITY OF MAN 78 IS mado. With tliese wnniiiii^s in mhu\ we may pnxTCMlto tliL stiuly of iirciiisturic mans Idols.
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