Evening star., 1923-02-22

agreement with the Turks" he said.
Work was carried on for the several
years with interesting results, but
was interrupted by the war. This
was an important city Of the ancient
Hittite kingdom. Their language has
not been read and little Is known of
the kingdom outside of references in
Egyptian and Babylonian literature.
Tablets were found at Tell-el-Ar-
mana proving that a correspondence
was carried on among the govern
ments of Egypt, Babylonia and the
Hittite Kingdom. They used the Ian
guage of Babylonia. which was at
that time an international diplomatic
language, as French has been in mod
ern times. So far the Hittite language
has not been deciphered. Neither has
the Etruscan and Lydian. We hope
to find records with HIttite inscrip-
tions translated into some known
language, thus affording a key. But
nothing like the Rosetto stone or the
rock Of Behistun has been found yet
to help with the Hittite."
Sir Frederic said that he had heard
of the effort to show that the Hittite
language closely resembled Latin.
though adjusted to a hieroglyphic
mode of writing. But he said that
this and other interpretations had
failed to convince scholars so far.
Wanted Hfttite Husband.
The correspondence of Tutankha-
mems widow with the Hittite king
could not have been in the Hittite
language. he said. This correspond
ence related to the search of Ank-
the death of Tutankhamen. She asked
the Hittite king to give her one OF
his sons. After Il mysterious CORES
pondence, IN which the Hittite king
seemed to inSinuate that Tutank ha-
men was still living and shat the
EtrU nm nr,1tn "a II N he p
search for q second husband, an
agreement was apparently reached to
furnish Hittite prince to the Egyp
tian throne. but Ankhnesamen dis
appears from history in an unknown
manner before her new bridegroom
only familiar in general way with
this story, as translated by Prof.
Saycc from the ancient records, but
that he thought the documents were
in the Babylonian language.
Regarding the recent complaint of
Prof. l.. Flinders Petrie that precious
objects. especially those of intrinsic
value were stolen almost as rapidly
from modern museums than We're re-
covered from their ancient hiding
places, Sir Frederic said:
Lose Hut Little by Theft.
THAT might apply to certain mu-
seums, but we have not been trou-
Museum. We lose a book now and
then. That is about all. Things of
great value are not left where they
can be easily stolen and they are per
petually guarded. But a number Of
great treasures have been stolen from
some museums.
Sir Frederic said that Il scientific lab
oratory had been organized in con-
nection with the British Museum TO
find out the safest and Surest ways
of preserving ancient woods, textile
and objects of all descriptions.
Valuable work has been done in
this field by proceeding scientifically.
he said. I'VE have had many men who
were expert in restoring and preserV-
ing these things, but the trouble has
been that their knowledge died or
left the museum when they did. To-
day knowledge Of this kind is being
recorded for future use.
Sir Frederic said that he was great
ly interested in the work OF the
American archaeolOEists at Sardls,
where the gold coins Of Croesus were
found. He said that Mesopotamia.
Egypt. Syria, Greece and other seats
Of ancient civilization presented vast
opportunities for exCavatinE expendi-
lures and that hundreds of years
would elapse before the known sites
were thoroughly exploited.