544 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



the large tumulus of Marie-Hroeck, which includes a small dolmen 

 containing rich funerary furnishings. In front of the entrance to 

 the cavern is a rectangular slab that bears on its face a scutcheon 

 containing two crosses, symbolical of power, and several very rudely 

 drawn representations of boats. The engravers of this period were 

 not artists, but stone-cutters, working upon a very hard rock with 

 very poor tools. Unable to figure distinctly what they wanted to, 

 they did the best they could. Handled hatchets were distributed 

 irregularly all round the scutcheons. Does not this epitaph seem to 

 mean that the tomb was erected in memory of a powerful maritime 

 chief by soldiers, his companions in arms? 



From these bucklers we pass to generalized feminine representa- 

 tions characterized by concentric necklaces and pairs of prominent 

 globular breasts. Such sculptures, which are repeated in various 

 dolmens and artificial mortuary caves in the valley of the Seine, 

 may be of religious import. They seem to be replaced in the south 

 of France by attempts at statues. Of such character are the two 

 sculptures of the dolmen of Collorgues in Gard, which also have the 

 symbolical cross on their breasts. 



Whatever they may be, the megalithic engravings are the earliest 

 graphic historical documents of the country. It is therefore im- 

 portant to collect and preserve them. 



They may be divided into simple ornamental motives, which 

 may further suggest interesting resemblances; figurative engravings 

 representing known and definite objects and forming commemora- 

 tive pictures capable of affording important historical or legendary 

 hints — the most ancient documents in our archives; and symbolical 

 engravings of more difficult determination, and independent of any 

 alphabet. 



Among the specimens of the last class, one sort, the cupule, is 

 extremely widespread. It is a very regularly shaped hemispherical 

 cup, generally represented by itself, but sometimes mingled with 

 other figures, most usually occurring in groups without arrangement, 

 but very rarely isolated. Entire surfaces are sometimes covered 

 with this design. It is a very ancient design, as such cupules are 

 found on the dolmens. In the dolmen of Keriaval, at Locmariquer, 

 the lower side of the horizontal slab is starred with numerous cupules, 

 which antedate the construction of the monument, for they appear 

 on the parts that rest on the supports. There may also, however, be 

 more recent cupules. We are totally in the dark as to what they 

 represent. 



Cupules are sometimes cut on the surface of rocks in place. En- 

 gravings similarly cut have been designated sculptures on rocks, and 

 are found almost everywhere. Those which have been most studied 



