Prehistoric Britain / by Robert Munro.

  • Munro, Robert, 1835-1920.
Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Prehistoric Britain / by Robert Munro. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CHAPTER III EVIDENTIAL MATERIALS (continued,) FURTHER DISCOVERIES IN BRITAIN, BELGIUM, AND FRANCE Half a century has now passed since the theory of organic evolution captured the philosophic mind of the day, and at once placed the science of anthropology into the position of being one of the most fascinating of intellectual pursuits. Our object in the present chapter is to give some idea of the progress that has been made during this long interval, in investigating the history of humanity and civilization from the new stand- point. To condense the story of half a century’s explorations and discoveries over a wide field by a crowd of eager and enthu- siastic workers who, probably then for the first time, realized the grandeur of the con- ception of the uniformity of nature, is an effort which calls for some indulgence on the part of the reader. We will begin the task by a rapid survey of a few of the principal Palaeolithic discoveries made in Western Europe up to the present time—for we are not yet in a position to isolate Britain from the Palaeolithic area on the Continent. Britain.—One of the most important archaeological achievements in Britain was the complete excavation of Kent’s Cavern, under the superintendence of Mr. Pcngelly, F.R.S.,