198 ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT ANCIENT MERV. 
younger epoch and would have no significance in connection with the culture 
proper of Ghiaur Kala. In the second case we would have to take into considera- 
tion the fact that the large marginal pieces bearing the inscriptions belong to vessels 
of the same type as those found in larger quantities 7m situ in outer digging 11. 
In this case they would become an essential factor in determining the culture 
of Ghiaur Kala. 
The study of the inscriptions has been undertaken by the distinguished 
academicians, Professors Radlof and Salemann in St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, 
however, owing to the bad condition of the characters, the results are not suffi- 
ciently certain to solve the problem in hand. Concerning one kind of writing, 
however, there can be no doubt. The fragments of pottery (G.K. 10a, 10b, plate 
52), as well as two pieces of bone (G.K. 11, 13; plate 53), are, according to Pro- 
fessor Salemann, undoubtedly inscribed in Pehlevi character. On the other hand, 
a bone (G.K. 12) bears, according to Professor Radlof, Uigurian characters. 
The Pehlevi writing, according to Professor Salemann, is ‘cursive book-writing 
(in contrast to the characters on coins and gems). It appears similarly on some 
silver bowls, and can not be determined chronologically. It may go up to the 
tenth and eleventh century of our era, perhaps it is still younger. It is easily 
a couple of centuries earlier, but is not more closely determinable.’”’ Concerning 
the meaning of the inscriptions, it is not possible to say anything ‘‘even approxi- 
mately,’’ because ‘“‘ while single letters are clear, they can not be formed into words.”’ 
If, therefore, the inscriptions belong to the end of the first millennium of our era, 
or still later, we would have to assume that they were made on old ostraka, and 
their significance would be similar to that of the younger coins and glazed fragments. 
In any event they are the first traces of Pehlevi writing found in Turkestan, 
and lead to the hope of further finds. 
As regards the other small finds, I will describe here the separate groups which 
appear worthy of observation. 
(/) METAL OBJECTS: GOLD, BRONZE, IRON. 
Of gold, there are to be noted two small pieces of jewelry: (a) A golden pendant 
in the form of a small vessel of sheet gold, with a flattened bottom and made 
in two parts—it is crushed (G.K. 170; plate 51, fig. 3)—from the upper digging, 
between 26 feet and 32 feet 7 inches deep; (b) a small piece of a golden clasp 
or band for the end of a strap, probably formerly provided with a hook in front, 
which is now broken off (G.K. 33; plate 51, fig. 4), from the upper digging, between 
5 and 8.75 feet deep. 
Worthy of remark are arrow-points of bronze of different types: (1) Three- 
edged arrow-points with three strikingly long points which form the projecting con- 
tinuation of the three edges (G.K. 109; plate 51, fig. 7). (2) Smaller three-edged 
arrow-points with small side-wings and a short shaft-socket (G.K. 110; plate 
51, fig. 6). Both of these arrow-points were found in the upper digging, between 
the depths of 17 feet 5 inches and 20.5 feet. A little deeper, between 20.5 
