The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-20
ABOUT THE ANCIENTs.
some Interesting Facts Well Worth
knowing.

From the New York Times.
Prof. Prestwich, from recent discoveries
made by Mr. B. Harrison near Tunbridge,
England, of stone implements, ventures
on another distinction as to man, the
proofs of his existence at some time be-
fore even what has been designated a the
paleolithic, or rough stone, period. The ar
gument has thus the weight of the geolo-
gist, rather than of the archaeologist. 1t
is necessary to say that both should throw
an equal light on the matter under discus
sion. Prof Prestwich explains how the
ground where these flint implements were
found existed at a period much more re-
mote than the gravel beds. This is again
a purely geological question, and to be
decided by biologists. Not discussing for
an instant the character of the flint i'm
plements, believing that these Kent scrap
ers, or chips, unquesuonably show the
handiWork of man, nevertheless the doubt
may be entertained as to their having any
distinctive forms which would show them
to belong to period anterior to the paleo-
lithic time. The discussion to-day in the
United States, raised by Maj. j. w. Pow
ell, is as to whether the distinction be-
tween the rough stone and the smooth
stone one is a fast one Can we, from the
appearance of two stone implements, or
their fashionings, decide that one is 49,
GOO or 100000 years older than the other?
Methods, Maj. Powell says, ''are adapt
ed to materials"
A careful study has been made of a silver
bowl found some few years ago in Den
mark in the GunderStrup bog. Supposa-
bly, the bowl was not buried but was
dropped on the surface of the ground, and
the bog grew up and in time covered it.
ME question of its origin is the one which
interests archaeologists. Is 1t Danish or
Gallo? Dr. Muller considers it as made
by Danish wOrkmen who had learned their
art in Gaul. French archaeologists claim
1T to be of Gallo-Roman origin. Embossed
mas, leopards, animals all foreign to Dem
mark. One figure holds a severed head.
There is a hunter killing an auroch. The
bowl has an inner decoration.
Are we to consider that the Pharaohs
were inclined to be boosters. or that their
declarations of pfety, relative to their con-
tributionS TO temples, were untrue? Every
Pharaoh seems to have been very careful
in recording his piOuS gifts. There has
been preserved a famous paPyrus known
as the great Harris papyrus. which, pro
viding the scribes did not lie, seems to
show that the kings OF Egypt were lavish
in their gifts. Erman at least thinks this
statement of RaneseS III. worthy of cred
ence. After giving the names OF the va
riOus temples which were the recipients
of the kings bounties, there is a general
summing up of his contributions. RameS-
es had reigned thiTty-three years. He had
given TO the various temples during this
time 1l3. 1873 slaves and 2,756 golden images
Toward the sacrificfal funds his eontribu-
tions had been 331.702 jars of incense
honey, Oil 22S.3S0 Jars of wine and drink
S5S,1l9 geese. 6,300,000 lOayes of bread. 49, :
1902 bouquets of flowers, and 5,279, $50
precious metals alone this king gave to
the temples what would be worth a mil
lion OF dollars to-day. To obtain this vast
accumulation Of gifts. the king undoubt-