Cave Hunting / Researches on the evidence of caves respecting the early inhabitants of Europe

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

52424

Title

Cave Hunting / Researches on the evidence of caves respecting the early inhabitants of Europe

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

William Boyd Dawkins presents a groundbreaking synthesis of cave exploration, correlating human artifacts with extinct fauna to revolutionize understanding of early European history. This scholarly yet accessible work traces the evolution from Paleolithic to Neolithic ages, highlighting discoveries in British and French caves that prove man coexisted with mammoths and lions. Dawkins combines rigorous geological analysis with archaeological insight, offering a definitive narrative on prehistoric progress, climate change, and the artistic capabilities of ancient hunters.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Cave Hunting,' W. Boyd Dawkins systematically compiles the rapidly expanding evidence regarding early human habitation in Europe, aiming to correlate the crude mass of facts recorded across the continent into a single, coherent narrative. Published in 1874, the work serves as a supplement to the pioneering studies of Dr. Buckland, Sir Charles Lyell, and Sir John Lubbock, updating their findings with discoveries made up to that date. Dawkins argues that the exploration of caves has transformed archaeology from mere antiquarian speculation into a rigorous science capable of proving the three traditional divisions of human progress: Stone, Bronze, and Iron, further refined into Paleolithic and Neolithic ages. A central theme is the proof of contemporaneity between humans and extinct mammals. Dawkins provides extensive evidence from the Hyæna-den of Wookey Hole, where flint implements and bone tools were found beneath layers of animal remains deposited by hyænas. This discovery definitively proves that humans lived alongside mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, and lions. He describes the excavation process, noting the preservation of delicate bone points which rules out water transport, and the specific gnawing marks of hyænas on bones. The book also examines the Victoria Cave near Settle, distinguishing between a lower Neolithic stratum inhabited by hunters and fishermen who lacked metal knowledge, and an upper Romano-Celtic layer. Dawkins identifies the Neolithic inhabitants with the Basque or Iberian stock, citing the unique 'platycnemism' (flat shin) found in human thigh bones from Yorkshire and Denbighshire. The text details the formation of caves and the light their contents shed on the sojourn of man, wild animals, and climatic shifts. Dawkins discusses the fauna of the Mendip Hills, identifying true lions and the glutton, and explains how water streams introduced these remains into sealed chambers. He verifies French discoveries personally, examining human remains in museums from Bordeaux to Paris, and acknowledges debts to the works of Lartet and Christy regarding the Auvergne caves. The work concludes with a comprehensive overview of the Pleistocene mammalia, their range, and the geographical and climatic changes in Europe during the glacial period, supported by woodcuts and detailed descriptions of implements and fossils.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52424.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg52424.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-08 09:59 UTC

Categories

• History
• Archaeology