392 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES IN SOUTHERN ASSYRIA. 



Mr. Loftus, the well known explorer of the antiquities of Babylon and 

 Nineveh, thus describes the recent researches which have been made at 

 "Warka, in southern Assyria : 



The extent of ground covered by these ruins far exceeds that occupied by 

 any other ruins in Assyria or Babylonia, as the principal portion is still sur- 

 rounded by an exterior wall forming an irregular circle of five miles and a 

 half. The chief piles bear the local names of Boarich and Waswass, and 

 besides these, there are, also, a ruin which Mr. Loftus considers to be that of 

 a large temple, two curious edifices partially built of brick-cones and oblong 

 vases, the mouths of which are turned outwards, and some conical mounds, 

 the origin of which cannot now be determined. The most remarkable feature, 

 however, of the remains of Warka is this, that with the exception of the 

 principal piles alluded to, the whole of the chief platform and of every smaller 

 mound within the walls is filled with glazed earthenware coffins, whose frag- 

 ments he scattered on the surface in such vast numbers as to show that this 

 place has been one vast repository of the dead. These coffins, of which some 

 specimens have been sent to England by Mr. Loftus, and are now in the 

 British Museum, resemble in form a slipper bath, with an oval opening at one 

 end to admit the body, to which is attached an earthen cover. Five rows of 

 small figures are embossed in the upper surface of these coffins, which are 

 for the most part covered with a thick glazing of a rich green color. The 

 hope of finding treasure has led the Arabs of the neighborhood to excavate in 

 these remarkable sepulchral mounds ; and hundreds of coffins have been in 

 consequence broken up every year, in search of gold and silver ornaments, 

 which are, however, rarely found. 



RECENT ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERIES AT CANOSA, ITALY. 



A correspondent of the London Athenseum gives the following graphic 

 description of an ancient tomb recently discovered and opened by Signer 

 Bonucci at Canosa, in Southern Italy: * 



The tomb which has most recently been brought to light has much of 

 an Oriental character, as the doors narrow towards the top. The color 

 of the ground is of a dark red and blue. The chamber facing the entrance 

 appears to have been devoted to the chief of the family, whilst the lateral 

 ones were occupied by the women ; and there, on beds of bronze, deco- 

 rated with ivory statuettes and other ornaments, were found female skele- 

 tons. All that beauty, all that wealth ever gave, could not save them from 

 the universal lot. The ground was covered over with gold thread, which 

 Signor Bonucci supposes to be the remains of a golden carpet or cloth; 

 whilst round the walls were disposed more than forty vases, of various 

 though graceful and elegant shapes. In harmony with the idea that the 

 deceased would resume the habits of this life in another world, the skeletons 

 bear upon them the traces of the most magnificent dresses. The princi- 

 pal female figure, for instance, was found with earrings representing two 

 peacocks, not merely in shape but in every tint: the color of the plamage 



