New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-15
EARLY EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION.
1T DATES BACK AT LEAST SEVEN THOUSAND
YEARS
From Nature.

FROM Nature
At the last meeting OF the British Association
for the Adyanc ement of Science. Professor FIN
ders Petrie gave a summary OF the principal DIS
coyeries during the last five years thar had re-
yealed the rise of Egyptian civilization. various
excavations at Koptos. Naqada, Abydos and
Hieraconpols had discovered remains beionSihs
to the ages before 1000 B. c., which had hther-
to been the starting point of known history.
BEGINNING with the Libyan stock. with some
Negro mixture. which occupied Egypt In us
earliest civilization, he showed some OF the OBJ
jects he had found at Naqada. Ihese were az
first temporarily assigned to a new race out
now they could be safely assigned to the pre-
dynastic stock about 5000 b. c.. and even ear
lier In the graves Of this aboriginal race were
found bowls Of black clay with patterns i'm
printed upon them. In each Of the countries
where this type had been found, 1t was contem-
porary with the Introduction OF metals me
proxmate date OF this was 5000 Il. C.-and that
accorded very well with the time necessary for
arriving at the high culture attained by 1900
B. c. Therefore, these discoveries were of great
value in giving the relative state OF Egyptian
civilization to that of the rest OF the world at
the introduction OF dynastc rule.
There was a wide difference between the peo-
pie of 5000 Il. G. and those of 1000 h. G., but no
difference between those of the latter period and
modern times. This showed that a different race
entered the country about that period
Next came the earliest dynastic remains e. g.,
the presumed tomb of King Mena. the founder
Of the dynastc history, Of about the date Of
400 b. c.. then the remains Of other royal
tombs found at Abydos belonging to the first
working between 1900 B. c. and 1900 b. c., as
metals came into use and copper was gradually
hardened into bronze had no parallel in the
world.
Professor Petrie showed diagrams and impress
sions Of cylindrical seals as used by the kings
OF the first three dynasties: also a vase exhibit
ing the earliest representation Of Egyptian my
thology, and other vases. tablets. and states
showing animals and birds These finds were
very important. as they showed the rise Of the
art OF modelling, and OF the Egyptian ideas and
appreciation OF the forms OF animals and of the
human body. and proved that Egyptian art
reached its high water mark somewhere before
1000 b. G.
other fnds showed the kings In triumph over
their enemies receiving captive kings, opening
the public works, retaining the marshes
The handled copper vessels showed the most add
vanced metal work found OF the first three
dynasties. The population Of the predynastic
age was different in type from that Of historical
times and In the early monuments the presence
OF diverse types was very clear We had at
last before evidence Of the close Of the period
previously considered prehistoric, showing the
development OF the art writing and civilization
of Egypt and the composition Of a race which
had since maintained Its character during 600
years. Egypt was then originator in the
arts and not borrower. but ever since then
most Of the nations Of the earth had been bcr-
rowers and not orlginators. Here We were
studying the history Of q country not borrow