MATERIALS TO WRITE UPON P.EEORE INVENTION OE PRINTING. 



(U7 



(fi<js. 19-20) ;" the same remarks aiv applicable to the ceramics of 

 Central and South Amei-ica (lig. 21) ;'' peculiarity of shapes and de- 

 signs, paintings and symbolic characters. 



In Grecian anticpiity fragments of pottery -were utilized as ma- 

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

 beautiful (Jrecian cei-amics of the purest period always bear inscrip- 

 tions explanatory of the ligures. 



It can not be demonstrattHl that ii'on never received engraved 

 inscriptions in anti<iuity. The great dec()m})()sition which this metal 

 nnist have suffered undei- the influence of the oxygeil of the atmos- 

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



Fic. I'.l. Fiisiiiol.' 

 with archaic in- 

 scriptions. 



Pig. 20. F u s a 1 o 1 < 

 with archaic in 

 scrlptions. 



Fig. 21. Bolivian vase. (Castelnau Pig. 22. Pottery fragment 

 Exped. do l;i pavtio ccntrale de with Greek inscription. 

 I'Ameriqiie dn Snd. Paris, 18S2.) 



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

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

 Assyria, Central Asia, and Greece tables or placques of bronze which 

 were covered with them. Hannibal had lengthy Greek and Punic 

 inscriptions engraved describing the state of his army and his 



« Scblieniann. Ilios, Ville et Pays des Troyons. trad, de I'miiilais par Mine. 

 Egger. I'aris, ISS."., gr. H\ 



^ Castlenau (Fr. de). Exiu'ditioii dniis la partie centrale de I'Aiiu'ricino du 

 Sud. Paris. 185-'. 8° et 4". atlns. i)i. 11, V2. M\. U, IC. 



cWilken (T'lr.). Griechische Osti-aka aiis Aegypten u. Xubien, Liepzig. 1889, 

 8°. Vol. II, pi. 1 to 3. 



