189(3.] ^^ [Siovcnsou. 



we know can be assigned more than 5000 years of existence under similar 

 conditions. These are regarded by their discoverer as Palfeolithic ; among 

 them are two whitened flints of the pointed type, thickly patinated, also 

 regarded by Mr. Petrie as Palseolithic. 



The stone work of these people was, as may be seen, of the verj'- highest 

 order. We have here some flint bangles, one of which is perfectly cut to 

 less than the eighth of an inch in diameter. Some of the finest blades 

 excel not only anything done in that line by the Egyptians, but are unsur- 

 passed by any ancient neolithic workmen. The exquisite regularity of 

 the surface flaking and the fine serrated edge of some of their tools is 

 startling in its perfection. Some forked stone lances used in hunting 

 the gazelle are both carious and beautifully executed, and their numbers 

 show their owners to have been great huntsmen. 



It is more than probable that some fine specimens of similar workman- 

 ship found in Egypt from time to time and which have been brought into 

 various museums were, in reality, relics of these people. Mr. Petrie has 

 already called attention to a fine blade belonging to General Pitt-Rivers' 

 collection and which is set in a handle of undoubted Egyptian manufac- 

 ture. This is certainly the adaptation of an older blade. 



These interlopers also used copper tools. Other metals such as gold, 

 silver and lead were apparently known to them, although valued as rare 

 products. 



In their pottery they seem to have often aimed at reproducing the stone 

 forms common among them, and even at imitating the very substance, 

 such for instance as the limestone breccia, which they copied in splashed 

 pottery, of which we have here a beautiful specimen. 



The red polished and the black and red polished wares are the most 

 common manufactures. Animal forms and curious devices were produced. 

 The black and red is very distinctive. This is of the sam e material as the 

 plain red, but is harder and is given a higher polish. The forms also 

 differ, and are generally remarkable for the elegance of their proportions. 

 According to Mr. Petrie, the black color is due to the " deoxidizing action 

 of the wood ashes in the kiln, reducing the red peroxide to a black mag- 

 netic oxide of iron. The brilliant lustre of the black is probably due to 

 the solvent action of carbonyl, due to imperfect combustion, which enables 

 the magnetic oxide to rearrange in a continuous surface." 



The effect of this process seems identical with that observed on certain 

 vessels found by Dr. Richter in the lowest stratum of the copper-bnmze 

 age in Cyprus and approximately placed by him sometime between 4000 

 and 3000 B.C. In the collection which we purchased from him some 

 years ago and which contains a part of the results of his own excavations in 

 Cyprus, there' is a round bowl to which th« above date is assigned, and 

 which is identical in coloring, polish and general effect to this black and 

 red ware ; the form, however, is different from that of any vessel in this 

 collection, and a small perforated handle for suspension on one side 

 would in itself draw attention to a difference in the manufacture. It 



