AET. 16 CAVES OP SZECHWAN PROVINCE, CHINA GRAHAM 11 



show no retouching except along the sutures, where careless scraping, 

 usually, has removed superfluous clay from the seam. As might 

 readily be expected, the inside in every case is left rough — just as 

 the modeler completed his pressing and gouging. The plastic clay 

 was pressed into the irregularities of the mold; the excess hastily 

 removed with a blunt, flat-faced instrument. There was no attempt 

 at smoothing. It seems not unlikely that, before casting, the molds 

 were first dusted with dry clay. 



The " flute player " (pi. 6) and the little head with the double 

 chin (fig. 14) are exceptions to the above statement. Both are solid, 

 not hollow ; the former at least was made in a half mold and finished 

 flat at the back. 



Among the vessel fragments shown in Plates 12 and 13, use of the 

 potter's wheel is evidenced, we believe, by the continuous striations 

 inside and by the nature of the flat bottoms. We would emphasize, 

 however, that we are not positive these vessels were wheel made. 



One of the most common artifacts in the Szechwan caves is the 

 earthenware coffin. It has often been found in place, sometimes 

 containing human bones. More frequently broken pieces of the cof- 

 fins can be seen strewn over the floors of the caves. Almost all the 

 caves have coffin niches, but in some cases the coffins are merely 

 cavities chiseled in the stone and fitted with stone lids. Some caves 

 have places for several coffins, indicating that they were used by 

 families. Two coffins are sometimes found side by side, evidently 

 for the burial of a man and his wife. 



We have already referred to the fact that there are collections of 

 artifacts from Chinese Han dynasty graves in the Field Museum, 

 in the public museum at Chengtu, and in the Imperial Museums at 

 Peiping. The objects in these collections so closely resemble those 

 herein described that one can scarcely avoid the conclusion that 

 the " mantsu " caves of Szechwan Province are really Chinese tombs- 

 made during the Han dynasty and possibly during the early years 

 of the Three Kingdoms. This conclusion is emphasized by the fact 

 that many of the carvings and artifacts reflect customs or repre- 

 sent implements that were in use by the Chinese 2,000 years ago, 

 many of which have persisted until the present day. The " mantsu " 

 caves, with their characteristic contents and ornamentation, seem 

 very much at home in the Chinese culture but in a strange world 

 among the aborigines of West China. We know of no primitive 

 tribe that now makes and uses artificial caves or artifacts such as 

 those found in Szechwan Province. Further, the Rev. Thomas Tor- 

 rance has informed the writer that on top of a hill on the edge of 

 the Chengtu plain, typical graves of the Han dynasty period occur, 

 while along the sides of the same hill Szechwan caves may be seen. 



