400 THE PREHISTORIC ANTIQUITIES OF HUNGARY. 



people, and their association in secure places of habitation of great ex- 

 tent, can furthermore be inferred from the enormous tumuli which one 

 sees scattered widely apart over the country, and which, for this reason, 

 have been considered as lookouts for sentinels, or as hills upon which 

 the Turkish viziers pitched their tents ; for our people ascribe everything 

 of a strange character to the Turks. Yet these mounds, so different in 

 construction and character, stood originally by the side of villages or 

 camps, amid large forests which no longer exist. Even in our time 

 mounds are met in the primeval torests, from Bakony to Szdzhalom, near 

 Bakonyb^l, at Tdtika, and in other extensive timbered regions of our 

 country. 



Arriving at the period of iron, that which lies nearest to our own 

 time, it must be confessed that our relics composed of that metal are 

 less numerous than those of bronze and even of stone, although these 

 latter belong to more remote times. This fact will not surprise you 

 when you learn that until now objects of iron have been totally neglected. 

 Being in most cases corroded by rust and broken, and resembling, more- 

 over, very often the implements of the present time, they were generally 

 undervalued, not only by the common people, but also by the more 

 instructed, who chiefly prize objects composed of precious metals, 

 especially when they are well preserved and present elegant and extra- 

 ordinary forms. Thus it has been until now; but in future tbese 

 underrated relics, which are of such importance in their bearing on 

 archaeological questions, will be carefully collected and preserved. 



This is all we can say in reference to our progress in archaeological 

 studies. 



■ As for anthropology, it must be confessed that this science has not 

 been cultivated among us to the extent it deserves. We have not yet a 

 noticeable collection, and those of our savants who pursue that study 

 must exert themselves, in order to keep pace with the anthropologists of 

 other countries. We expect much, however, from the intimate inter- 

 course that will spring up during this congress. 



In general we may state, without self-praise, that for several years the 

 interest of our countrymen has been increasing. Archaeological publi- 

 cations are dispersed throughout our literature; museums multiply in 

 the counties'in a manner highly satisfactory to tbe iriends of our science. 

 I find everywhere collectors of antiquities, and the taste for original 

 research is growing, as can be inferred from our improvised exposition. 

 Thus we are entitled to the hope that henceforward our compatriots will 

 preserve what they find, and that we shall soon possess all the material 

 required for our studies. 



It is true, we have no megalithic monuments; we cannot show you 

 kitcheu-uiiddens or lacustrine habitations. They are either wanting in 

 our country, or, if they exist, have not yet been discovered. On tbe 

 other hand, we can place before you all that has come to light in our 

 country within these last years. The liberality of our museums and the 



