re, how shall we answer
the question as to the age in which these rude drift implements were
fashioned and used by these primitive people?"<45>

The examples we have quoted, even though the case of California be not
considered, are all suggestive of a great antiquity for man, taking us
back in time to when the glaciers still "shone in frigid splendor"
over the northern part of the United States. When European savants
had established the science of Archaeology, and shown the existence of
separate stages of culture, it was but natural that those interested in
the matter on this side of the Atlantic should turn with renewed energy
to investigate the archaeology of this country, to see if here, too,
they could find evidence of a Paleolithic Age. But the scholar in this
country is confronted with a peculiar difficulty. Owing to the very
multiplicity and variety of relics of prehistoric times, it is difficult
to properly classify and understand them. The field is of great extent,
the time of study has been short, and the explorers few; so it is not
strange that but few localities have been thoroughly searched. But,
until this is done, we can not hope to reach definite conclusions.

The peculiar culture of the Indians, prevailing among them at the
time of the discovery, proved a hindrance, rather than a help, in
this matter. The Indians are certainly not Paleolithic, many of their
implements being finely wrought and polished; but their arrow-heads,
hatchets, and celts were sufficiently rude to spread the conviction that
all weapons and implements of stone should be referred to them. This
belief has done much to hinder real progress. It is not to be wondered
at that some difference of opinion has prevailed, among our scholars,
whether the different stages of culture, discovered in Europe, have any
existence here.

On one hand, it is denied that different stages can be detected. Says
Prof. Whitney: "It is evident that there has been no unfolding of the
intellectual faculties of the human race on this continent similar
to that which has taken place in Central Europe. We can recognize no
Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, or Iron Ages."<46> Others assure us,
that if present, the ages stand in reverse order. "The relics last used
were by far the rudest, and the historic races, which are the survivors
of the prehistoric, are the wildest of the two; the lower status
remaining, while the higher has passed away."<47> In still another pl