NOTABLE ANTIQUITIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 20$ 



years before the temple was built. Even the French acknowledge that since 

 the Yenus of Milo nothing to equal it has been found. Moreover we have- 

 spveral bronzes, such as remains of tripods, coins, weapons. Of bronze 

 statuettes there is only one large one. Still our bronzes amount to 1,000 

 or more, but mostly small pieces. Of these we may mention a bull's ear 

 and horn the size of life, one of a lion in bronze relievo, statuettes of war- 

 riors, different bronze animals scarcely distinguishable — such as horses, 

 swine, cows, etc., probably consecrated gifts from the 230oorer inhabitants of 

 the country in good harvest years. Among them, too, we have a griffin's or 

 peacock's head in bronze. As- duplicates of anything have to be divided be- 

 tween the Greek and G-erman Governments, the Germans will certainly not 

 get many of this collection. Numerous articles in terra cotta display rare 

 perfection in form, preparation, and color, and lead to the supposition that 

 the ancients must have well understood brick-making and burning," — Globe- 

 Democrat. 



THE NOTABLE ANTIQUITIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



ArchaBology is certainly on the advance. The recent researches abroad 

 — at Cyprus, Mycena3, Bologna ; in short all over the earth — are stimulating 

 inquiry and investigation nearer home, and the prospect is that we shall 

 have something to interest us in our own prehistoric antiquities. The 

 learned world hail with delight the wonderful discoveries of Di Cesnola. 

 Schliemann, George Smith Wood, and other earnest explorers in the East, 

 and the hope is that we are about to see active scientific interest directed 

 towards our own archaeology. All most certainly rejoice in the prospect of 

 scientific progress in our land. The antiquities of America have been most 

 singularly overlooked and neglected. For years the efforts of active inves- 

 tigators have been directed towards the development of our vast and almost 

 wholly unexplored archaic field. The government has been solicited, Con- 

 gress invoked, learned societies appealed to ; but all in vain. Our people, 

 ever ready to interest themselves in the antiquities of other lands, had but 

 few words of encouragement for home exj)lorers. Ample means could be- 

 raised, if necessary, in response to a cable telegram, to secure foreign an- 

 tiquities, but not one dollar to purchase relics of the great unrecorded age 

 — of that lost civilization which once filled the great valleys of the West. 

 These facts are discreditable to our age, our people, and the government. 



These reflections are due to the meeting of scientists in Boston recently 

 to consider the importance of securing for Boston and the country the cele-^ 

 brated Dighton Eock, which has so long divided the attention of scientific 

 men. It appears that the rock in question is in danger of being carried off 

 by the King of Denmark, under some show of title conveyed years ago to 

 the Eoyal Society of Northern Antiquities, Copenhagen. To prevent this,, 

 many of leading citizens of Massachusetts have concluded to initiate a move- 

 ment as above indicated. Among those interested are President Eliot, oi 



