300 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



98. Archaeological evidence confirming this original 

 connection of the peoples of the Mediterranean basin seems 

 to be afforded by the extension over approximately the same 

 area and from Neolithic times onwards of the custom of burial 

 in sepulchral chambers, either rock-hewn or constructed on 

 or close below a level surface ; and in the latter case covered 

 by a mound of earth or stones. As typical examples of this 

 widespread type of interment, and in illustration of the di- 

 verse local developments which it has undergone, we may 

 cite alike the " mastabas " and Pyramids of Egypt, the 

 dolmens and chambered tumuli of Tunis and Algeria, of 

 Spain, the West of France, and our own islands, the Nura- 

 ghe of Sardinia, the " tombe a camera " of Etruria, the " bee- 

 hive " tombs of Greece and the iEgean, the chambered 

 tumuli of Karia, Lydia, and Phrygia, and perhaps also, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Sergi, the Kurgani of Southern Russia. For 

 these monuments not only range over approximately the same 

 area as the race in question, and accompany the develop- 

 ment of a primarily homogeneous civilisation, but are always 

 found to be tenanted by representatives of the same physical 

 type, wherever their contents are sufficiently well preserved. 



99. In the same way, a number of independent investi- 

 gations of the " pre-Aryan ' languages which survive into 

 historic times within the same area seem to converge upon 

 the conclusion that the Mediterranean basin corresponds 

 also to an early linguistic province. 



100. Meanwhile, alongside of this whole group of in- 

 quiries tending to establish the essential unity, and inde- 

 pendent native development of the Mediterranean province, 

 a similar series of conclusions are taking shape, which bear 

 directly upon the second component recognised in the 

 traditional scheme, with which yEgean and eventually all 

 Mediterranean ethnology historically begins ; and with an 

 almost identical influence upon that early hypothesis. 5n 

 this restricted and qualified field the Aryan hypothesis has 

 proved a valuable working suggestion, especially since it 

 became probable that not merely the Italic and Hellenic 

 groups of languages were of kindred northern origin, but 

 that the latter was intimately related with the extinct 



