The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-11-24
THE IRISH STANDARD: SATURDAY. NOVEMBER a.
sEPuLcHaAL TREASURE

Il ~
Fly sEPuLchRAL TREASURE
p-.-,.n. e,rra.ent. round n the To1b
Of Scythian King.
The district of thss western Caucasus
which is traversed by the river Kuban,
writes correspondentofth the London 1S'ses,
is very rich in barrows and sepalchral t1-
multi. The Russian Imperial Archeoloee
ical Commission, under the presidency OF
Count A. Bobrinski, has lat ,ty explored
several of these mounds and has made IN
them many interesting and important d1s-
coveries. One mound IN particular thfoWs
much new light upon the manners and Gus
toms of the ancient Scythians who ereceed
it. 1t lies within short distance OF the lit
tie settlement of Krymskaia, and ls locally;
known as Great Kurgan. The earth re-,
moved, the explorers came upon a long
building consisting of three chambers and
connecting passage. The length OF the
whole is about sixty-seven feet. The walls
are constructed of massive wellhewn slabs
of stone and are covered with stucco, which
in turn is elaborately decorated with fres-
Goes The floor, also formed of some slabs,
is laid in cement. The doorway OF the first
of the three chambers is Ornamented with
plain cornice, and the aperture has been
closed by means of slabs Of stones. The
height of the room within varied from seven
feet to eleven feet.
This chamber proved to be a perfect treas
| ure-house Of archaeological relics. In
corner to the right of the entrance stood a
large earthen amphora. Close to it lay a
silver vessel and small glazed earthen-
tho,> oh
| beads and the remains of copper ladle. A
few of the beads were evidently of Egyptian
origin; others were shaped like the human
head and yet others were medallion shaped.
One Of these last bore the figure of a lion;
another the portrait of a Roman Emperor;
a third the efigy Of q warrior completely
armed with breastplate, helmet, shield and
spear. Near the center of the chamber
were found some fragments Of iron which
had evidently once formed part Of large
wheel, tile bones OF two horses, and some
rusty remnants of brides.
But the most interesting objects lay near
the left wall of the chamber. There, with
it's head turned toward the east, was found
the skeleton Of a young woman who IN life
had clearly been a person of high rank.
Around her neck was heavy band OF gold
en- nigree work with pendant ornaments,
and with q central plaque bearing BULBS
head. Beside the skull was thin, triangu-
lar golden plate nearly eight inches broad
and ornamented with figures in relief-the
main ornament of the lady's head-dress, for
its angles were each bored with round
holes. Near this plate were found sixteen
birds Of beaten gold, each about half an
inch high and fifty small, thin gold plaques
decorated with masks, stars and heads OF
Medusa. Each of these plaques is provided
with small holes, and the plates had no
doubt been fastened to the woman's cap.
Beneath the skull lay two gold earrings OF
fine filigree work and q gold chain, to one
end of which a charm, shaped like lions
head, was appended Both arms OF the
skeleton were enclrcled by massive brace
lets shaped like snakes with horses heads,
and on one finger of the right hand was g.
broad gold ring engraved with figure OF
the Muse Erate playing on the Tyre. All
these objects were covered with thick
layer of SCOT and ashes.
The second, or central room, was nearly
empty Beyond it short passage led to
the third and most important chamber.
This was nearly four feet higher than the
| others; the stones of which it was built
were larger; the stucco was of better
quality. In it were several vessels OF cop
per and some drinking cups of silver rich
ly decorated. Parallel with the left wall OF
the chamber, with it's head to the east, lay a
skeleton, presumably that of Scythian
King Around the neck was a thick golden
| Enclosed hoop which weighs over a
pound. The ends are ornamented
with representations of wild boars
attacked by lions. By the skull lay gold
en- plate roughly worked with masks and
stars. This seems to have formed the prin-
clpal ornament of the Kings head-dress.
| Nearer the skull were the remains of sill
yer CULVER. overlaid with gold, on which
were engraved warriors and mythical fly
ing figures. This CULVER contained about
fifty slender copper arrows. On the skele-
toms left similar culver with about two
hundred arrows and much-rusted sword
with golden hilt, together with cylin-
drical stone hone, bored with hole, were
found. These, no doubt, originally hung to
the Kings belt. Nearer to the wall were
twelve iron spear points. Near both skele-
tons remains of rotten boards and nails
were also discovered. These point to the
likelihood of the bodies having been inclosed
in collins of some kind.
No more valuable archaeological discovery
has ever been made in the Kabas district
The contents of the barrow are in all probar
bility of date not much later than the
Christian era; and they are so numerous
and so perfect that they go far toward en-
abling psychologists to form a tolerably
comprehensive idea of Scythian arts and
manners in an age of which little hitherto
has been known. The weight Of the golden
objects which have been, found exceeds
three pounds. The whole Of the relics, the
value of which as mere metal is estimated
at $4,000, are to be sent to st. Petersburg.
LIFE IN A FLAT.
Some Of tho Peculiar Pleasures Of Dwoll-
~ ers In Large Cities. ..
Life in fat is not wanting in incidental