immense beds as occur near Abbeville, several thousand years are
required, even under the most favorable conditions.

Yet we would be scarcely willing to rest such important
conclusions as the foregoing on the researches of one
individual, or in one locality. As already stated, DePerthes
made his discoveries public in 1847. Yet they were so opposed to
all that had been believed previously, that but few took the
pains to investigate for themselves. In 1853, Dr. Rigollot, of
Amiens, who had been skeptical as to DePerthes, commenced to
look for himself in the gravel beds at St. Acheul, about nine
miles below Abbeville. As might be expected, he was
soon convinced.


Picture of Paleolithic Flint, England.------


It may be said that the scientific world formally accepted the
new theory when such English scientists as Evans, Falconer,
Lyell, and Prestwich reported in its favor. Since that time,
many discoveries of ancient implements have been made at various
places in France and England under circumstances similar to
those in the valley of the Somme. In England they have been
found along almost all the rivers in the southern and south-
eastern part. One class of discoveries there gives us new ideas
as to the extent of time that has passed since they were
deposited. That is where they occur in gravel beds having no
connection with the present system of rivers. In one case the
gravel forms a hill fifteen feet high, situated in the midst of