| Show Earliest Traces of Mans Man's Existence in Palestine Dug Up Bone Beds of Bethlehem Yield Ancient Specimens By ny E. E N. N FALLAIZE Royal noyal Anthropological Anthropological logical Institute of London London The earliest known traces of mans man's existence existence existence exist exist- ence in Palestine and it may maybe maybe maybe be almost the earliest evidence evidence evidence evi evi- dence of man in the whole world have been di discovered covered in deposits now known as the Bone Beds of Bethlehem The discovery was made by Miss E. E Gardiner and Miss D. D Bate excavating excavating ex ex- ex the deposits in what appears appears appears ap ap- ap- ap pears to be a swallow hole near Bethlehem on behall behalf of the Wellcome Wellcome Wellcome Well Well- come Marston archeological research research research re re- re- re search expedition to the Near East The discovery of the swallow hole was made some few years ears ago when excavations were being made for a awater awater awater water supply On the nature of the deposits becoming apparent a concession concession concession con con- cession to excavate was granted to J. J L. L Starkey on behalf behall of the Wellcome Wellcome Well Well- come expedition The actual examInation examination examination exam exam- of the deposits was entrusted to Miss Bate the Ute well-known well authority authority authority author author- ity of the British Museum of 01 Natural Natural Natural Nat Nat- ural History on paleontology and Miss E. E Gardiner lecturer on geology geology geology geol geol- ogy of London university Important Animal Specimens The most striking specimen among the animal remains is the hinder part of the shell of a gigantic tortoise of a species not yet et fied fled With it were several detached plates of the shell and a huge leg bone Although only the tail part of the shell was found whole it measures measures measures meas meas- ures well Yell over two feet across as compared with a little over two inches for the same part In a tortoise tortoise tor tor- tor toise of about a foot in diameter There is also part of the tooth of an elephant clepha the the t-the the elephant was first identified in Palestine in evidence from the Bethlehem bone beds beds and and cheek teeth of the rhinoceros Most important howe however er from the view of the paleontologist and geologist is what appears to be part of a leg bone of a very small form of horse possibly the toed three-toed horse of the Tertiary geological ep ep- ep- ep V och Very Early Human Duman Artifacts In the same beds and associated with these animal remains were a number of worked flints of which a selection has been brought to England England England Eng Eng- land and is now available for examination examination examination exam exam- by expert judges of mans man's earliest handiwork There can however however however how how- ever hardly be any doubt as to the human origin of these specimens One of or them appears to be a core from which flakes Oakes have been struck while the others show the characteristic characteristic characteristic charac charac- forms and chipping found in eolithic or pre ments Of those who have seen them J. J Reid Moir Moil the great authority authority au au- au- au in Great Britain on pre- pre implements Is confident as to their human origin and their early form There is every reason to say that at least the deposits are not later than Early Pleistocene and it may maybe maybe maybe be that they are Pliocene This is certainly nearly as early as the earliest date assigned to the earliest implements found by Reid Moir in England and approximately contemporary contemporary contemporary con con- temporary with Peking Man irian |
