SYMBOLS FOR CHARTS OF PRE-HISTORIC ARCILEOLOGY. 223 



topography as proraineut as in a geographical chart. Where the topog- 

 raphy is toomarlicd the archaeological signs are obscured, the signs and 

 the colors not being sufficiently distinguishable. Indeed, it is possible 

 that the dark shade of the topographical i)ortions might render the exact 

 location of the archaeological symbols impracticable. 



In remedying this inconvenience, we mnst not go to the other extreme 

 and efface the topography so completely as to render it difficult to lay 

 'down the symbols. The chart is also in this way rendered so pale as to 

 be disagreeable to the eye. But that which is still more misleading is 

 the impossibility in such cases of appreciating certain laws of archaeo- 

 logical distribution in relation to valleys, plateaus, plains, mountains, 

 forests, and marshes. The best plan is to have the chart contain all the 

 topographical data, but in feeble tints. The sheet should be prihted in 

 a legible manner, in a gray, bistre, or sepia color, rather than in black. 



Boutcs and names of places. — In charts designed specially for prehis- 

 toric archieology, the highways, railroads, and ev<?n byways, might be 

 laid down. These are indispensable in locating the explorations of the 

 country, ni directing to special diggings, and in guiding archaeologists 

 who wish to visit the sites. These indications of roads would be disad- 

 vantageous only in cases where we wish to trace the ancient highways, 

 and even then this objection might be obviated by the use of different 

 colors for different epochs. As to the names of places, it is not neces- 

 sary to give any in addition to those which belong to antiquities, with 

 the exception of a few, perhaps, which are indispensable as points of ref- 

 erence in guiding our study of the chart. 



§ 2. Government charts. 



The execution of a special chart is very expensive. Very often, most 

 frequently, indeed, one does not possess the means to have them drawn 

 and engraved. In such cases one must have recourse to charts already 

 accessible. They are not very expensive, although they are often over- 

 charged with other matters. Sometimes we have the good fortune to 

 possess such a map as that of the French commission, which is not thus 

 marked up. We have in such a case only to put the letters or the s^m- 

 bols where we wish them. 



These chart reports may be luid not only of whole districts, but of 

 small sections. These sheets may be combined in any way, or a special 

 district may be made up by cutting parts from two or three charts. 

 Nearly all enlightened countries have excellent charts on a large scale, 

 which can be easily obtained. 



