666 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890- 



SPAIN. 



Spanish prehistoric archeology was represented in fonr cases, being- 

 selections from the collection of MM. Henry and Louis Siret, No. 11 

 rue Joseph, Antwerp, Belgium. These gentlemen (brothers) made 

 extensive exploration in the province of Carthagena, in the southeast 

 of Spain, which they published in a magnificent album. 1 had the 

 pleasure to visit their house and examine their collection at Antwerp. 

 Their collection represented the neolithic period, the bronze age, and 

 the period of transition from one to the other. There were arms, imple- 

 ments, and ornaments in stone and bone, immense vases of pottery, 

 some of which were used for burial by inhumation. The usual bronze 

 implements and objects were shown. There were sepultures of vari- 

 ous kinds, and fragments of clothing made of linen cloth were found 

 with the bodies. Agriculture and industries had large representation. 



SWITZERLAND. 



Switzerland was represented by the collection of Mr. Valentine 

 Schmidt. There were the usual objects belonging to the neolithic 

 period and found in connection with the lake dwellings of that epoch. 

 While the objects were choice and well selected, and consequently of 

 beauty and importance, there was nothing remarkable about them more 

 than one can find in good museums. 



BELGIUM. 



Belgium had a representation of fifty cases devoted to prehistoric 

 anthropology and archeology, though the occupation represented may 

 have come down somewhat into the commencement of historic times. 

 That portion of their display which they called ethnology was devoted 

 almost exclusively to the crania and skeletons of prehistoric men, but 

 which they carried over to ethnology because of the exhibition of the 

 specimens of Neanderthal, Engis, Spy, Cro-Magnon, Furfooz, Sclaiz- 

 neaux, Antwerp, Selzete, with some individuals from Frankish ceme- 

 teries. 



The paleolithic period was well represented, and this in some of its 

 earliest manifestations, for the occupation of Belgium by prehistoric 

 man seems to have begun at as early a period as that of any other 

 country of Europe. A principal depot of this early occupation is at 

 Mesvin, near Mons (Hainault). There were in auy pieces of flint dis- 

 played from this depot, which is believed by some of the Belgium 

 X)rebistoric archaeologists to belong to the very earliest quaternary 

 geologic period, and to have been earlier than the depots at either 

 Chelles or St. Acheul. 



In objects belonging to the cavern period— mammoth and reindeer — 

 southern Belgium is especially rich. The rivers Meuse, Lesse, and 

 Sambre have many caverns in the ravines along their banks, and they 



