The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-05
TREASURES IN GRAVES.

DR.. Schliemann dug up the tomb of
Agamemnon and carried off al cart full
of gold and silver and bronze treasures.
And now, at Palestrina, in Italy, some
peasants have found tomb containing
room full" of gold and silver orna>
ments. Really if this thing is to con-
tinue our miners had better strike for the
shores of the Mediterranean instead Of
for the Black Hills.
We quote some of the very interest
ING account of the treasure troye"
Palestrina:
"The tomb was found among those olive
grounds and vineyards upon the plain at the
loot Of the hillside up which Palestrina creeps.
1t was q rectangular chamber, dug in the earth
at depth OF about two metres from the pres
emit surface, and measuring 5.45 metres in
length by 8 90 in width at one end !, and 8. 80 at
the other. Its construction was OF the print
tive character, the walls being lined with slabs
of tufa; and, although the stones which cover
cd it have been crushed in the contents were
found so placed and, with the exception OF
the most perishable portions, in 20 remarkable
. state ofrelative and perfect preservation as to
make 1t an easy task to form sufficiently cor
rect picture of what the interior was like, when
the survivors having turned aside, the slabs
forming the covering were laid down, as they
have remained for more than thirty centuries:
On the wall was hung panoply of arms. cir
cular shields OF bronze, lances, swords, dag
gers and it would seem, also, clubs, the weap-
ons of the deceased. Upon the floor, but fur
ther to one side, as indicated by narrow rect
angular cavity Of about two metres in length
| in which the bones were found, stood . sump-
tuous funeral couch made Of wood and bronze
upon which lay the body, no doubt gorgoously
attired for among the dust and bones Of the
dress and body, and the crumbled wood and
oxvdized bronze of the couch; were exquisite
golden ibula, massive breastplate or head
| piece-opinions differ as to which-of soliC
gold, and other ornaments of the same mate
rial. At the head and foot OF the corpse stood
bronze tripods with their lebes, and by tn
sides number of objects, some for funeral use,
| others of domestic character, which had eth
er belonged to the deceased or had been placed
as tokens of respect and affection around hi
remains. Among them are silver vases and
tazze, beautifully wrought and OF various Iorn
and sizes; bronze vases, and what rom TIT
quantity Of the remains would appear to hav'
been some exquisite pieces OF furniture, nchl,
oinamented with ivory, deilcafely carved II
low relief. The tomb, spacious as 1t was, mus
have been crowded with the things within it
for the remains almost fill a room Ct about tn
same size. Unfortunately, the avidity OF tn
peasants at the sight of the gold was such tha
they broke the bronze shields ana the large
bronze vessels and vases in pulling them aside
The material had become brittle, and woult
not stand the rough handling. The men how
ever, had sense enough to preserve the pieces
and as regards tho shields, It least there IS LIT
tie doubt they can be put tozether. Blu
among the wreck of these and other things tn
majority of the silver vases, ten or dozen u
ali are aninjured, and the principal portion o
the golden ornaments are in SO wonderful
state Of preservation that they might have lei
the workman's hands bat yesterday. Their
Is small vase of gold, or perhaps shouI'
say . golden cup, Of the form OF half an egg
fhreo and : half inches in diameter. With TT