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OBSERVATIONS ON CUP-SHAPED AND OTHER LAPIDARIAN 

 SCULPTURES IN THE OLD WORLD AND IN AMERICA. 



BY CHARLES RAU. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The attention of European archaeologists lias been directed for several 

 years to that very curious and widely-distributed class of antiquities, which 

 are called pierres a ccueUes in French, and Schalensteine in German, and to 

 which the English designation "cup-stones" might with propriety be applied. 

 In a general way, they may be defined as stones and rocks upon which cup- 

 shaped cavities, varying in size and number, are executed by the hand of 

 man. But as these cup-like, excavations often appear, more especially in 

 the Old World, associated with engraved figures of a different character, it 

 will be necessary to consider them in connection with the latter. 



Though the knowledge of the existence of cup-stones in Europe dates 

 back many years, it is only of late that archaeologists have commenced to 

 view them in a broader light, and to speculate on their ethnic significance. 

 Professor E. Desor, in particular, published not long ago a pamphlet, enti- 

 tled "Les Pierres a Ecuelles" (Genfeve, 1878),* in which he describes, with 

 his usual clearness, their occurrence in different countries, making this dis- 

 tribution a basis for drawing inferences bearing on the important question of 

 the migration of man in long-past ages. 



'Reprinled iu: Mat.^rianx pour I'Histoire Primitive ct Natiirclle do I'Hommc, 1878, p. 259, etc. 

 Professor Desor repuljlisbea this essay, enriched by additional facts, iu his "M<Jlaiiges Scientifiques," 

 Paris, Neuchiitel, et Genfcve, 1879. „ 



