90 CUr-SHAPED AND OTHER LAPIDARIAN SCULPTURES. 



stories told, to which I will not allude, as they have no scientific value 

 whatever, but simply show the current of popular fancy. 



It is to be hoped that the efforts of European savants — more especially 

 of those of German}^, who show so much interest in the matter — will ulti- 

 mately result in clearing up the mystery that still shrouds the origin and 

 meaning of cup-excavations and grooves on ecclesiastic structures. 



I have to allude once more to Mr. Rivett-Carnac's remarkable discov- 

 eries in India, and to the views thereon based hj him. No one who has 

 examined his publications in connection with those of Simpson and Tate can 

 help admitting the striking resemblance between the cup and ring- cuttings 

 of India and Great Britain. Indeed, his theory that the primitive rock and 

 stone-sculptures of those countries were executed by people akin in race, 

 following similar customs, and observing similar forms of worship, deserves 

 the highest attention. Yet, after all, we deal here for the present with a 

 speculation and not with an established fact. The necessary evidences, 

 based upon the discover}^ of cup and ring-carvings in various countries of 

 the Old World, where thus far they have not been shown to exist, are at 

 present wanting. If they should come to light in the course of time, we 

 may be allowed to construct the ethnological chain which is still imperfect. 



Professor Desor's Arj^an theory, as given in a preceding part of this 

 publication, appears to me truly captivating, although the difficulties just 

 alluded to have, of course, also to be overcome in this case. In fact, Mr. 

 Rivett-Carnac and Professor Desor are aiming at similar results. The last- 

 named gentleman's view, formulated with great distinctness, would tend to 

 establish a kind of archaeological harmonj^, by reducing, as it were, a 

 number of foctors, hitherto not properly coimected, to a single principle- 

 Leaving aside for a moment the question touching megalithic monuments 

 and primitive sculptures, how well would this theoiy explain the gap 

 existing between palaeolithic and neolithic implements, and likewise the 

 introduction of domestic animals so characteristic of the era of polished 

 stone. The opinion tliat the Aryans were still in the stone age at the 

 period of their dispersion probably will gain more and more ground ; but 

 the question concerning the original home of this people, the existence of 

 which was traced in a manner somewhat analogous to that by which 



