A STUDY OF PEEHISTORIC ANTHROPOLOGY, 



655 



cheese, betting one cheese against another. It is usually played by two persons, 

 but may be by four. They divide themselves into opposite parties, and each one 

 alternately throws the cheese or the disc, rolling it on its periphery at the distant 

 mark or peg. 



The discs are generally of hard wood. Sometimes the children, for economy, make 

 them of terra-cotta, and also sometimes, but rarely, of stone. The small discs are 

 from 7 to 12 centimeters in diameter, while the large ones are from 18 to 20 centime- 

 ters. 



The following are the principal rules of the game: 



Choice is made by "odd and even" as to which party shall have the first play. 

 The line or point of departure is fixed by consent, and here the player stands to roll 

 his disc. The goal or mark for its arrival is also fixed, and he whose discs rest near- 

 est the mark or line is declared the victor. 



This play dates from high antiquity, and is believed to be the modern repetition 

 of the ancient classic game made known generally by the antique statue of Discob- 

 olus. 



In excavating the ancient tombs I have found terra-cotta discs placed as covers for 

 amphora in crematory burials, but which appeared to have been first used as dis- 

 cobolo. 



Perforated stones — club -heads or riatta. — The discoidal stones of the 

 perforated kind pass by degrees into the ring form, a type exemplified 



124 



320 



Fifr. 28. 

 Peufokated Stonks— Club heads or Riatta. 



