306 ANTHROPOLOGY. 



jected to the ravages of time, and to prepare thus the material for the 

 great archaeological chart of the kingdom. To guide the pastors, teach- 

 ers, and others who desired to cooperate in this work, a circular was dis- 

 tributed in 184*), upon which were noted the signs adopted for the differ- 

 ent classes of objects. As the needed funds were not voted for the en- 

 terprise, which was paid for by private subscription, archaeological topog- 

 raphy was executed but slowly. 



Notwithstanding the progress of the work of preservation, it was 

 evident that a director residing at Copenhagen, could accomplish but 

 little and would not be able to inspect properly the numerous monu- 

 ments scattered throughout the country, now more than ever exposed 

 to destruction by reason of clearings, restoration of buildings, con- 

 struction of railroads, &c. By a circular of November 1:0, 1866, the 

 directors of monuments addressed the curators of the archaeological 

 collections in the cathedral cities of Denmark and Iceland and proposed 

 to them to form diocesan commissions, composed of residents having 

 the greatest taste for archaeology, and to nominate diocesan inspectors 

 to work in concert with the central directory at Copenhagen for the 

 preservation of the monuments of each diocese. But although this 

 project obtained numerous adherents, by reason of the failure of pecuni- 

 ary resources it was not put into execution, as it was desirable that it 

 should be, and as it probably will be in the future. 



.Meanwhile justifiable complaints continued to be made concerning the 

 destruction of national monuments, and as the directors had not sufficient 

 funds to arrest these ravages, they made an appeal, through the minister 

 •of public instruction, to the Danish parliament, which had often given 

 proof of its good will in this matter, and solicited the means for making a 

 complete investigation and for placing under the protection of the law 

 all the most important monuments of the country; the proposition, 

 amply seconded, February 8, 1873, expressed the following views: 



1. That an inquiry as thorough as possible should be made into all 

 the relics of antiquity existing in Denmark. 



2. That this inquiry should be confided to archaeologists and design- 

 ers, whose duty it should be to make plans, sketches, and descriptions 

 of the most important monuments, notably of those which deserve to 

 be in the future placed under the protection of the law. 



o. That in order to arrive at this result, if it could not be obtained 

 otherwise, the government should negotiate with the proprietors for the 

 purchase of the said monuments. 



4. That there should be annually appropriated for these acquisitions, 

 for about ten years, a sum of 3,500 rigsdalers ($1,900). 



These propositions were adopted unanimously by the parliament, as 

 well lor the fiscal year from April 1, 1873, to March 31, 1874, as for the 

 following years. 



In consequence, the archaeological bureau has been able during 



