Page:Prehistoric Times.djvu/31

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ARCHÆOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
17

there more than 1500 axes, 100 whetstones, 150 corn-crushers, and 2500 arrow-heads, flint flakes, chips, etc.; altogether more than 4450 instruments of stone, besides about 350 of bone, making, with 100 earthenware spinning- weights, a grand total of nearly 5000 objects, and yet not a trace of metal. The number of corn-crushers and spindle-whorls is interesting, when we remember that Wangen alone, among these four localities, has supplied us with specimens of carbonized grain, and flax fabrics.

Now let me ask the reader to compare with the four cases given in the table on p. 16 the list of remains from the Bronze Age settlements of Morges, Nidau, Estavayer, Cortaillod, and Corcelettes, and the two Bronze Age finds of Larnaud and Réallon. The manner in which the collections were made accounts, probably, for the absence of whetstones, and, perhaps, to a great extent, for that of the flint flakes, etc. On these points, therefore, I lay little stress; but the total absence of stone axes at Morges, and their rarity at Nidau and Estavayer, is very remarkable. At the former, M. Forel, after the most careful search, has found but one object of iron. The large number of corn-crushers and the presence of spinning-weights are also significant.

Colonel Schwab's splendid collection from Nidau tells the same tale. When I saw it he had only 33 stone axes, and yet as many as 335 corn-crushers. The ruder articles of stone he had not apparently collected. He had nearly 200 spindle-whorls, and many earthenware rings, specimens of which have also been found at Morges, but which are entirely wanting at the Pont de Thiele, at Wauwyl, at Moosseedorf, and at Wangen.

It is, of course, possible that very different states of civilization may co-exist in different parts of the same country; but in this case we must remember that the settlement at Nidau is only about fifteen miles from Moosseedorf. Nor can we suppose that the differences were merely a question of wealth; the bronze fish-hooks, axes, small rings, pins, etc., which are found in such large numbers, show that bronze was used not for the articles