Mr。Southall’smethodwassubstantiallythatofthelateexcellentMr。Gosseingeology。Mr。Gosse，asthereadersofthisworkmayremember，feltobliged，inthesupposedinterestofGenesis，tourgethatsafetytomen’ssoulsmightbefoundinbelievingthat，sixthousandyearsago，theAlmighty，forsomeinscrutablepurpose，suddenlysetNiagarapouringverynearthespotwhereitispouringnow；laidthevariousstrata，andsprinkledthefossilsthroughthemlikeplumsthroughapudding；
　　scratchedtheglacialgroovesupontherocks，anddidavastmultitudeofthings，subtleandcunning，littleandgreat，inallpartsoftheworld，requiredtodeludegeologistsofmoderntimesintotheconvictionthatallthesethingsweretheresultofasteadyprogressthroughlongepochs。Onasimilarplan，Mr。
　　Southallproposed，attheverybeginningofhisbook，asafinalsolutionoftheproblem，thedeclarationthatEgypt，withitshighcivilizationinthetimeofMena，withitsraces，classes，institutions，arrangements，language，monuments——allindicatinganevolutionthroughavastprevioushistory——wasasuddencreationwhichcamefullymadefromthehandsoftheCreator。Tousehisownwords，“TheEgyptianshadnoStoneage，andwereborncivilized。”
　　ThereisanoldstorythatonceonatimeacertainjovialKingofFrance，makingaprogressthroughhiskingdom，wasreceivedatthegatesofaprovincialtownbythemayor’sdeputy，whobeganhisspeechonthiswise：“MayitpleaseyourMajesty，therearejustthirteenreasonswhyHisHonourtheMayorcannotbepresenttowelcomeyouthismorning。Thefirstofthesereasonsisthatheisdead。”Onthisthekinggraciouslydeclaredthatthisfirstreasonwassufficient，andthathewouldnottroublethemayor’sdeputyforthetwelveothers。
　　SowithMr。Southall’sargument：onesimpleresultofscientificresearchoutofmanyisallthatitisneedfultostate，andthisis，thatintheselateryearswehaveanewandconvincingevidenceoftheexistenceofprehistoricmaninEgyptinhisearliest，rudestbeginnings；theverysameevidencewhichwefindinallotherpartsoftheworldwhichhavebeencarefullyexamined。ThisevidenceconsistsofstoneimplementsandweaponswhichhavebeenfoundinEgyptinsuchforms，atsuchpoints，andinsuchpositionsthatwhenstudiedinconnectionwiththosefoundinallotherpartsoftheworld，fromNewJerseytoCalifornia，fromFrancetoIndia，andfromEnglandtotheAndamanIslands，theyforceuponustheconvictionthatcivilizationinEgypt，asinallotherpartsoftheworld，wasdevelopedbythesameslowprocessofevolutionfromtherudestbeginnings。
　　ItistruethatmenlearnedinEgyptologyhaddiscouragedtheideaofanearlierStoneageinEgypt，andthatamongthesewereLepsiusandBrugsch；butthesemenwerenottrainedinprehistoricarchaeology；theirdevotiontothestudyofthemonumentsofEgyptiancivilizationhadevidentlydrawnthemawayfromsympathy，andindeedfromacquaintance，withtheworkofmenlikeBoucherdePerthes，Lartet，Nilsson，Troyon，andDawkins。
　　Butanewerawasbeginning。In1867WorsaaecalledattentiontotheprehistoricimplementsfoundonthebordersofEgypt；twoyearslaterArcelindiscussedsuchstoneimplementsfoundbeneaththesoilofSakkaraandGizeh，theveryfocusoftheearliestEgyptiancivilization；inthesameyearHamyandLenormantfoundsuchimplementswashedoutfromthedepthshigheruptheNileatThebes，nearthetombsofthekings；andinthefollowingyeartheyexhibitedmoreflintimplementsfoundatvariousotherplaces。CoupledwiththesediscoverieswasthefactthatHornerandLinantfoundacopperknifeattwenty-fourfeet，andpotteryatsixtyfeet，belowthesurface。In1872Dr。Reil，directorofthebathsatHelouan，nearCairo，discoveredimplementsofchippedflint；andin1877。Dr。JukesBrownmadesimilardiscoveriesinthatregion。In1878OscarFraas，summingupthequestion，showedthatthestoneimplementsweremainlysuchasarefoundintheprehistoricdepositsofothercountries，andthat，ZittelhavingfoundthemintheLibyanDesert，farfromtheoases，therewasreasontosupposethattheseimplementswereusedbeforetheregionbecameadesertandbeforeEgyptwascivilized。TwoyearslaterDr。Mook，ofWurzburg，publishedaworkgivingtheresultsofhisinvestigations，withcarefuldrawingsoftherudestoneimplementsdiscoveredbyhimintheupperNileValley，anditwasevidentthat，whilesomeoftheseimplementsdifferedslightlyfromthosebeforeknown，thegreatmassofthemwereofthecharactersocommonintheprehistoricdepositsofotherpartsoftheworld。
　　AyetmoreimportantcontributiontothismassoffactswasmadebyProf。HenryHaynes，ofBoston，whointhewinterof1877and1878beganaverythoroughinvestigationofthesubject，anddiscovered，afewmileseastofCairo，manyflintimplements。
　　ThesignificanceofHaynes’sdiscoverieswastwofold：First，therewere，amongthese，stoneaxeslikethosefoundintheFrenchdriftbedsofSt。Acheul，showingthatthemenwhomadeortaughtmenhowtomaketheseinEgyptwerepassingthroughthesamephaseofsavageryasthatofQuaternaryFrance；secondly，hefoundaworkshopformakingtheseimplements，provingthattheseflintimplementswerenotbroughtintoEgyptbyinvaders，butweremadetomeetthenecessitiesofthecountry。FromthisfirstfieldProf。HayneswenttoHelouan，northofCairo，andtherefound，asDr。Reilhaddone，variousworkedflints，someofthemlikethosediscoveredbyM。RiviereinthecavesofsouthernFrance；thencehewentuptheNiletoLuxor，thesiteofancientThebes，beganathoroughsearchintheTertiarylimestonehills，andfoundmultitudesofchippedstoneimplements，someofthem，indeed，oforiginalforms，butmostofformscommoninotherpartsoftheworldundersimilarcircumstances，someofthechippedstoneaxescorrespondingcloselytothosefoundinthedriftbedsofnorthernFrance。
　　Allthisseemedtoshowconclusivelythat，longagesbeforetheearliestperiodofEgyptiancivilizationofwhichthemonumentsofthefirstdynastiesgiveusanytrace，mankindintheNileValleywasgoingthroughthesameslowprogressfromtheperiodwhen，standingjustabovethebrutes，hedefendedhimselfwithimplementsofrudelychippedstone。
　　Butin1881camediscoverieswhichsettledthequestionentirely。
　　InthatyearGeneralPitt-Rivers，aFellowoftheRoyalSocietyandPresidentoftheAnthropologicalInstitute，andJ。F。
　　Campbell，FellowoftheRoyalGeographicalSocietyofEngland，foundimplementsnotonlyinalluvialdeposits，associatedwiththebonesofthezebra，hyena，andotheranimalswhichhavesinceretreatedfarthersouth，but，atDjebelAssas，nearThebes，theyfoundimplementsofchippedflintinthehard，stratifiedgravel，fromsixandahalftotenfeetbelowthesurface；relicsevidently，asMr。Campbellsays，“beyondcalculationolderthantheoldestEgyptiantemplesandtombs。”TheycertainlyprovedthatEgyptiancivilizationhadnotissuedinitscompleteness，andallatonce，fromthehandoftheCreatorinthetimeofMena。Norwasthisall。Investigatorsofthehighestcharacterandability——menlikeHullandFlindersPetrie——revealedgeologicalchangesinEgyptrequiringenormousperiodsoftime，andtracesofman’shandiworkdatingfromaperiodwhenthewatersintheNileValleyextendedhundredsoffeetabovethepresentlevel。ThuswasendedthecontentionofMr。Southall。
　　StillanotherattackuponthenewscientificconclusionscamefromFrance，whenin1883theAbbeHamard，PriestoftheOratory，publishedhisAgeofStoneandPrimitiveMan。HehadbeenespeciallyvexedatthearrangementofprehistoricimplementsbyperiodsattheParisExpositionof1878；hebitterlycomplainsofthisashavingananti-Christiantendency，andrailsatscienceas“theidoloftheday。”HeattacksMortillet，oneoftheleadersinFrencharchaeology，withagreatdisplayofcontempt；speaksofthe“venom“inbooksonprehistoricmangenerally；complainsthattheChurchistoomildandgentlewithsuchmonstrousdoctrines；bewailstheconcessionsmadetosciencebysomeeminentpreachers；andforetellshisownmartyrdomatthehandsofmenofscience。
　　Effortslikethisaccomplishedlittle，andamorelegitimateattemptwasmadetoresisttheconclusionsofarchaeologybyshowingthatknivesofstonewereusedinobediencetoasacredritualinEgyptforembalming，andinJudeaforcircumcision，andthattheseflintknivesmighthavehadthislaterorigin。Buttheargumentagainsttheconclusionsdrawnfromthisviewwastriple：First，aswehaveseen，notonlystoneknives，butaxesandotherimplementsofstonesimilartothoseofaprehistoricperiodinwesternEuropewerediscovered；secondly，theseimplementswerediscoveredinthehardgraveldriftofaperiodevidentlyfarearlierthanthatofMena；and，thirdly，theuseofstoneimplementsinEgyptianandJewishsacredfunctionswithinthehistoricperiod，sofarfromweakeningtheforceoftheargumentsforthelongandslowdevelopmentofEgyptiancivilizationfromthemenwhousedrudeflintimplementstothemenwhobuiltandadornedthegreattemplesoftheearlydynasties，isreallyanargumentinfavourofthatlongevolution。AstudyofcomparativeethnologyhasmadeitclearthatthesacredstoneknivesandimplementsoftheEgyptianandJewishpriestlyritualwerenaturalsurvivalsofthatpreviousperiod。Forsacrificialorritualpurposes，theknifeofstonewasconsideredmoresacredthantheknifeofbronzeoriron，simplybecauseitwasancient；justasto-day，inIndia，Brahmanpriestskindlethesacredfirenotwithmatchesorflintandsteel，butbyaprocessfoundintheearliest，loweststagesofhumanculture——byviolentlyboringapointedstickintoanotherpieceofwooduntilasparkcomes；andjustasto-day，inEuropeandAmerica，thearchitectureoftheMiddleAgessurvivesasaspecialreligiousformintheerectionofourmostrecentchurches，andtosuchanextentthatthousandsonthousandsofusfeelthatwecannotworshipfitlyunlessinthemidstofwindows，decorations，vessels，implements，vestments，andornaments，nolongerusedforotherpurposes，butwhichhavesurvivedinsundrybranchesoftheChristianChurch，andderivedaspecialsanctityfromthefactthattheyareofancientorigin。
　　Taking，then，thewholemassoftestimonytogether，eventhoughaplausibleorverystrongargumentagainstsingleevidencesmaybemadehereandthere，theforceofitscombinedmassremains，andleavesboththevastantiquityofmanandtheevolutionofcivilizationfromitslowesttoitshighestforms，asprovedbytheprehistoricremainsofEgyptandsomanyothercountriesinallpartsoftheworld，beyondareasonabledoubt。Mostimportantofall，therecentdiscoveriesinAssyriahavethrownanewlightupontheevolutionofthedogmaof“thefallofman。”
　　ReverentscholarslikeGeorgeSmith，Sayce，Delitzsch，Jensen，Schrader，andtheircompeershavefoundintheNineviterecordstheundoubtedsourceofthatformofthefalllegendwhichwasadoptedbytheHebrewsandbythemtransmittedtoChristianity。[193]
　　[193]ForMr。Southall’sviews，seehisRecentOriginofMan，p。
　　20andelsewhere。ForMr。Gosse’eviews，seehisOmphalosascitedinthechapteronGeologyinthiswork。ForasummaryoftheworkofArcelin，Hamy，Lenormant，Richard，Lubbock，Mook，andHaynes，seeMortillet，LePrehistorique，passim。AstoZittel’sdiscovery，seeOscarFraas’sAusdemOrient，Stuttgart，1878。AstothestrikingsimilartiesofthestoneimplementsfoundinEgyptwiththosefoundinthedriftandbonecaves，seeMook’smonograph，Wurzburg，1880，citedinthenextchapter，especiallyPlatesIX，XI，XII。ForevenmorestrikingreproductionsofphotographsshowingthisremarkablesimilaritybetweenEgyptianandEuropeanchippedstoneremains，seeH。W。Haynes，PalaeolithicImplementsinUpperEgypt，Boston，1881。SeealsoEvans，AncientStoneImplements，chap。i，pp。8，9，44，102，316，329。AstostoneimplementsusedbypriestsofJehovah，priestsofBaal，priestsofMoloch，priestsofOdin，andEgyptianpriests，asreligioussurvivals，seeCartailhac，asabove，6and7；alsoLartet，inDeLuynes，ExpeditiontotheDeadSea；alsoNilsson，PrimitiveInhabitantsofScandanavia，pp。96，97；alsoSayce，Herodotus，p。171，note。ForthediscoveriesbyPitt-
　　Rivers，seetheJournaloftheAnthropologicalInstituteofGreatBritainandIrelandfor1882，vol。xi，pp。382etseq。；andforCampbell’sdecisionregardingthem，seeibid。，pp。396，397。Forfactssummedupinthewords，“ItismostprobablethatEgyptataremoteperiodpassedlikemanyothercountriesthroughitsstoneperiod。”seeHiltonPrice，F。S。A。，F。G。S。，paperintheJournaloftheArchaeologicalInstituteofGreatBritainandIrelandfor1884，p。56。SpecimensofPalaeolithicimplementsfromEgypt——knives，arrowheads，spearheads，flakes，andthelike，bothofpeculiarandordinaryforms——maybeseeninvariousmuseums，butespeciallyinthatofProf。Haynes，ofBoston。SomeinterestinglightisalsothrownintothesubjectbythespecimensobtainedbyGeneralWilsonanddepositedintheSmithsonianInstitutionatWashington。ForAbbeHamard’sattack，seehisL’AgedelaPierreetL’HommePrimitif，Paris，1883——
　　especiallyhispreface。ForthestoneweaponfoundinthehighdriftbehindEsneh，seeFlindersPetrie，HistoryofEgypt，chap。
　　i。OfthesediscoveriesbyPitt-Riversandothers，Masperoappearstoknownothing。