MATERIALS TO WRITE UPON BEFORE INVENTION OP PRINTING. 647 



(figs. 10-20) ;" the same remarks are ap})lical)le to the ceramics of 

 Central and South AnK'rica (fig. 21) :'' peculiarity of shapes and de- 

 signs, paintings and symbolic characters. 



In Grecian anti(iuity fragments of pottery were utilized as ma- 

 terials upon which to Avrite accounts and observations (fig. 22) ;' the 

 beautiful (irecian ceramics of the purest period always bear inscrip- 

 tions explanatory of the figures. 



It can not be demonstrated that iron never received engraved 

 inscriptions in antiquity. The great decomposition which this metal 

 nnist have sutf'ered under the influence of the oxygen of the atmos- 

 phere and the earth is the only reason why none has come down to us. 



PiC!. 20. Ftisaiolo Ft(;. 31. Bolivian vase. (Castelnan Pig. :?;>. Pottery fragment 

 with archaic in- Exped. de la partie centralc dc with Greek inscription, 

 scriptions. TAmeriqiie dn Sud. Paris, 1882.) 



All the other metals, including the precious metals, pure or alloyed, 

 are found with inscriptions. Tliere have been recovered in Egypt, 

 Assyria, Central Asia, and (ireece tables or placques of bronze which 

 were covered with them. Hannibal had lengthy Greek and Punic 

 inscri})ti()ns engraved desciMbing the state of his army and his 



o Sc'bliemann. Ilios, Ville et Pays des Troyens, trad, de Tanglais pai" Mine. 

 Egger. Paris, 1885. gr. 8\ 



& Castlenau (Fr. do). Exiu'dition dans la partie centi'alo dc rAnu'ri(|iU' da 

 Slid. Paris. 1852, 8° et 4^ atlas, pi. 11. 12. 18. 14. IC. 



c Wilken (Ulr. ). Griechische Ostraka aus Aegypteu u. Nubien, Liepzig, 188!), 

 8°. Vol, II, pi. 1 to 3. 



