ETHNOLOGY. 



INTERNATIONAL CODE OF SYMBOLS FOR CHARTS OF PRE-HIS- 

 TORIC ARCHAEOLOGY. 



Translated by Otis T. Mason. 



[Fiom the supplement to the eleventh number of Mat6riaux pour I'Histoiro Primitive 

 et Naturelle de I'Homme, 1875.] 



Many systems of symbols for arcbceological charts have been devised 

 by those engaged in this study. They have failed to become popular, 

 because they were understood only in the idiom wherein they were 

 written, or they have been so mixed up with geology on the one hand 

 and with history proper on the other, as to become far too complex for 

 popular use. 



The first attempt to invent a set of international symbols was made 

 by the Archaeological Section of the Scientific Association of Cracow, 

 in the appointment of a commission for this object, with Count A. 

 Przedziecki as its president. This distinguished scholar presented to 

 the fifth session of the International Congress of Anthropology and 

 Prehistoric Archaeology, held at Boulogne, 1871, a full report of the 

 results of the labors of this commission. It will be found in the report 

 of that meeting. 



A committee was appointed to examine and to report upon this paper. 

 The committee was composed of MM. E. Cartailhac, C. Marinoni, J. da 

 Silva, H. Hildebrand, Count A. Przedziecki, V. Schmidt, and Count G. 

 Wurmbrand. The author of the scheme having died soon after the 

 meeting at Boulogne, the committee never met, and the project was 

 dropped. 



In pursuance of the learned Pole's labors, M. Ernest Chantre pre- 

 pared a chart of a portion of the Khone basin, with a new system of 

 symbols. This chart he presented to the next meeting of the Congress 

 at Stockholm, 1874. At the session of August 14 the congress took 

 into consideration M. Chantre's " Projet de 16gende iuternationale pour 

 les cartes arch6ologiques pr(3historiques," and charged its executive 

 committee to nominate a commission to discuss the project and to fix 

 upon a definite system. The commission consisted of: Capelliiii, Italy; 

 Desor, Switzerland; Dupont, Belgium; Engelhardt, Denmark; .lohn 

 E%'ans, Great Britain ; H. Ilildebrand, Switzerland; Leemans, Holland; 

 P. Lerch, Russia ; G. De Mortillet, (although absent,) France ; F. Komer, 

 Austria; Yirchow, Germany. 



