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 standpoint. To condense the story of half a century's explorations and discoveries over a wide field by a crowd of eager and enthusiastic workers who, probably then for the first time, realized the grandeur of the conception 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 Palæolithic discoveries made in Western Europe up to the present time—for we are not yet in a position to isolate Britain from the Palæolithic area on the Continent.
Britain.—One of the most important archæological achievements in Britain was the complete excavation of Kent's Cavern, under the superintendence of Mr. Pengelly, F.R.S.,
