162 COMPARATIVE ARCHEOLOGY. 
the forest; then came iron and bronze, but first bronze, the 
use of iron not being known tili later.’ 
In 1830 the Danish antiquaries arranged the relics in the 
celebrated Museum of Northern Antiquities on this basis, and 
shortly afterwards it was adopted in the Museums of Lund 
and Stockholm. At the outset the principle was carried to 
such an extent that the pre-historic relics were classified in a 
series of consecutive rooms, according to the composition of 
the material of which they were made. But subsequently 
this arrangement was discontinued, as fresh discoveries 
showed that there was a considerable overlapping of relics 
relegated to these different ages. It took some time for even’ 
experienced archeologists to realise the fallacy of adhering 
rigidly to such a classification, as if the instant the superiority 
of a bronze axe over one made of stone became apparent the 
manufacture of the latter ceased there and then. The dura- 
tion of this overlap would also vary in different countries owing 
to local circumstances, such as poverty of the people, distance 
from commercial highways, want of metals, &c., for, it must 
be remembered, that in the first instance bronze objects were 
imported from eastern lands. Bronze was in use among the 
nations bordering the shores of the Eastern Mediterranean 
probably t1ooo years before its appearance in the Baltic 
regions. However, the sequence suggested by Lucretius, 
especially as regards cutting’ tools and weapons, is 
correct and probably applicable to all European countries ; but 
its chronological value in the fixing of dates fluctuates accord- 
ing to each country’s geographical position and attractiveness 
for early human settlements. 
IJ.—EVIDENCE OF THE UNWRITTEN RECORDS. 
When relics of the handicraft work of people who lived 
in remote ages come to light the primary duty of the antiquary 
is to give a precise account of them, noting at the same time 
bones, and other organic substances, that may be associated 
with them, as well as the physical circumstances in which the 
objects were found. Should the antiquarian relics readily take 
their place alongside of analogous remains discovered in the 
district and already preserved and systematically arranged in 
