Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01

4hN
of Plouharnel (Corcoro), which actually
serves as q granary for a emall farm, IS ~
feet long and II feet high. Masses weigh
ing IS, ITO and even 220 tons must have been
transported for these dolmens and menhirs
Not Meant for Human Sacrifice.
A visit to these grottos without a precon-
ceived opinion Immediately removes from
the miud the old supposition of human sac
rifces Although the dolmsns, when
stripped of their covering, are somewhat
like tables or altars, the simple fact that
they have been covered proves that the in
terror of the chamber, and not the top OF
the roof, must be considered. The galleries
leading to the chambers, the objects found
within, and the absence of steps round the
so-called altars, all unite to dispel the idea
that they were sacrifcial structures. The
hollows and little trenches, thought to be
recognized, are nothing but natural irregu-
larities, such as are found in all stones.
What were these caverns? 1t seems to
us that the NEST simple hypothesis Is to
see in them primitive places OF refuge
for an early human race. 1t is known tnat
primitive human families lived in caves to
conceal themselves from wild beasts, to
secure protection from the sun and rain,
and to have q safe retreat for rest ana
sleep, and in countries where there were
no natural caves artificial ones were con-
structed All the common articles of every
day life have been found in these grottos-
different kinds of vases, pottery, stone and
bronze arms, and jewels of precious stones,
bronze or gold. Also there have been found
either earth mingled with ashes from human
bodies that were burned, or perfect human
bones, and once even q whole skeleton was
discovered in sitting posture. From these
circumstances the conclusion that they were
sepulchral chambers has been drawn, and
this is the general opinion of archeolog1sts
and, as that science Is not my sphere, l
humbly place mvself under the standard OF
these masters. Nevertheless I cannot re.
frain from thinking that these artificial
caves must have served the living before
they received the dead.
Archaeological Specimens OF Carnao
However this may be, they are monu-
ments raised by our ancestors, the Celts,
and have afforded us great variety Of e1-
tremely curious objects. The museum es-
tablished in the old town of. Vannes is the
most interesting museum of antiquities in
existence, and contains the most instructive
of these specimens comprising vases OF
every shape and date, from the simplest to
the most elegant and ornate; axes Of pol
ished stone that are admirable in form and
finish, made of flint, Of jade and of green
stone; splendid necklaces of enormous tur-
quoises and amber-colored glass, glass balls
and plaques, fine gold bracelets, bronze
arms, human bones, horns of deer and frag-
ments and debris of all kinds.
The cromlechs, or vast circles of stones,
seem to have been places of reunion, and
probably their center was occupied by an
oil ltor or or hv
All these megalithic monuments are of
rough stone, nevertheless strange figures are
cut upon several of the supports of one Of
the three dolmens at Mane-Gorion; they are
principally angles drawn one over another,
rectangles, straight and broken lines.
Others are seen on the upright wall of the
passage leading to the dolmen at Gavr'inis,
and there the curved line. and especially
the ellipse takes the lead; the axes or
wedges found there also have outlines upon
them. On the ceiling of the dolmen at
Locmariaquer still other figures have been
noticed which vaguely recall those of the
old Mexicans. and perhaps are simple
tattoos. If they express language it was
not rich one. They may be very simple
ornamentations such as the Bretons still
put upon their pottery, harness and CLOTH
ing.
They may have indicated the age Of the
deceased, his titles or the date of his burial.
I have nowhere found any certain as
Economical sign among these figures These
monumental inscriptions were Christianized
only by slow transition. The later men,
hirs are of cut stone, and crosses sre traced
upon their sides as at Plouharnel, or they
are even cut in the form of huge cross,
ornamented with signs, as at Carnac. The
old cemeteries Of the country have pre-
served these carved menhirs to our day.
The country of the Celts is, without ques-
tion, one of the most important for study in
the entire territory or our beautiful Gaul.
The Ligurians, the Iberians, the Finland
ers, the Kimry, the Gauls, properly So
called, the Francs, the Romans, the Nor
mands also and the Anglo-Saxons have there
appeared, or made longer or shorter stays,
Roman occupation was the longest, lasting
not less than 400 years; and, though the
Celts constantly ruled the country and alb
sorbe1 all who came, numerous material
traces of their presence are found, and Mr..
Min has lately brought to light whole
Herculaneum.
Thus ages have succeeded each other,
slowly depositing their successive sedi-
mentS As the traveller among the ruins of
Pompeii tinds himself searching the silent
streets, once so rich and gay, for the Roman
knights who traversed them, for the car
riages which left the marks of their last
passage, for the busy people of the forum or
the youngPompeians on their way from the
bath, so in this Gallic-Roman city, just be-
ing discovered, we love to recall the people
who pitched their tents on these shores.
Above all, we love to go back to the first
beginnings of our race and, among these
avenues o. menhirs and before these dol
mems, to see the ancestors both of our bodies
and minds already living, and better than
many of us, in the CONCENTRATIONS of the
heavens, in the faith of immortality, in the
feeling of human independence and of true
liberty. CAMILLE PLANTATION.
SCANDAL IN THE PULPIT