The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
EGYPT'S YIELD OF RELICS
A Rich Archaeological Harvest
Reaped This Year.
Remarkable Je.eIry of the First
Dynasty Recovered From New
Found Tombs-Mngnificent Brace
lets Worn by Forgotten Queen.

| LONDON. March 9.-The seasons yield
! in archaeological lore is briefly reported
| by Prof. Flinders-Petries. Edwards pro-
| fessor of Eayptology of the University
! College, London, who has spent the win
| ter in exploring the royal tombs of the
| earliest Egyptian dynasties. and whose
! discoveries included some of fascinating
interest.
1--WE are now a ole to trace" he says,
the regular Development of civilization
during four hundred years, from the time
when writing was rarely used and then
only in a rude, pictorial stage, down to
common use of delicately figured hero
glyphs which could not be distinguished
| from those which were used thousands Of
years afterward.
We have now found beautifully
wrought jewelry and gold work. minuteiy
engraved worries and toilet objects Of
Menes, the founder OF monarchy, and his
successor. fashioned more than $500 years
ago. and of his predecessor as we'll There
are about thirty inscriptions in stone and
| ivory. Among these works of Menes are
F., parts of four ebony tablets with figures
and Inscriptions one apparently showing
human sacrifice.
''rhe strangest object is a massive strip
of gold unknown to us with the name
! 'Menes Aha upon it. OF Ger. the success
scr to Menes, it is astonishing to find the
forearm of his Queen still in its wrap
pings, with four splendid bracelets intact.
One is a series of figures of the royal
, hawk perched on the tomb. There are
thirteen figures in chased gold, alternat-
ing with fourteen in car, ed turquoise.
| The second bracelet is composed of spiral
beads of gold and lazuli in three groups.
The third bracelet has four groups in the
shape of an hourglass, with beads Of
amethyst between gold and connections
of gold and turquoise. The fourth has
centrepiece of gold copied from the TO
settle seed, with amethyst and turquoise
beads and bands and braided gold wire.
''Ihis brilliant and exquisitely finished
group Of jewelry shows the high level
that had been attained at the beginning
of the first dynasty. 1t is 1000 years cid
er than the iewelry of Dahshur. the old
est yet known, and has the great ad-
vantage of being carefully examined as
it was found. and restrung in exact ar
rangement. The arm of the Queen had
heCn broken off by the first plunderers
and laid in a hole in the wall of the tomb
and there remained neglected by four
parties in ancient and modern times who
successfully cleared the tomb.
There are forty inscribed pieces OF
ivory and stone and two lions carved in
ivory. of the same kind. There was also
discovered great royal tombstone v hich
was found in pieces and rejcined. Sixty
private tombstones give the names in
use in the royal household Many were
formed from the Goddess Meth, and not
one from Isis.
"A dozen inscribed worries were found.
including the handle of the royal land
measuring cord, and also an impress of
the beautiful royal seal. showing the
King wrestling with a hippOpotamus and
spearing crocodile.
Coming to the second dynasty. the
tomb of Per-ab-sen yielded large tomb
stone of the King. carved in syenite, also
the names of his three predecessors
carved in stone bowls. These are Hotepo-
haul, Ranch. and Netoven. From these
we see Per-ab-sen was probably the
fourth King of the dynasty. and his sue
cessor was apparently khase khemat,
whose tomb has the royal sceptre
fcrraed by cylinders of sard. held to-
gcther by a copper rod in axis and with
gold bands at intervals. There remains
tventv-eight inches of this, but the low
er end has been lost.
There are also seven stone vases with
gold covers fastened with twisted gold
wire, two gold bracelets. twenty copper
dishes dozens of copper models. tools,
copper axes, fruit knives, and perfect
dish OF dioritc"