Evening star., 1933-01-23
STONE AGE VILLAGE
FOUND IN PERSIA
american Expedition Makes
One Of Most important
Art Discoveries.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, January ga 5000
year-old village of the Stone Age has
been unearthed two miles from Per-
sepolis in Persia and the buildings there
discovered contain some of "the most
magnificent sculptures" of later age
ever brought to light by archeologists,
according to an announcement made
today by DR.. James H. Breasted. direc-
tor of the Oriental Institute of the Uni
versity of Chicago, based upon a re-
port to him from DR.. Ernest Herzfeld,
field director of the Institutes Persia
expedition.
Burned by Woman's Whim.
Persepolis, the Versailles of ancient
Persia until its buildings were burned
by Alexander the Great, who is said to
have set fire to them to please the
whim of the woman of his fancy, over
mountains, and the excavations have
been conducted about two miles from
the site of the city today.
DR.. Herzfeld has uncovered series
of wall sculpture which, If set to-
gether, would form a vast panel Of re-
Iefs five or six feet in height and al
most 1000 feet in length. The dis
covery is one of the greatest and most
important in the history Of archeolog-
ical research anywhere" said DR..
Breasted. 1T not only far surpasses
any archaeological disclosure ever made
In the history of such research in Per-
sia, but there has never been any dls-
covery like it anywhere in Western
Asia since archaeological excavation be-
gan there almost century ago.
Stones Like Ebony.
The walls of the splendid palaces
which stood on the gigantic terrace OF
Persepolis, overlooking mighty plain
encircled by mountains, were OF sum
dried brick. but the colonnaded halls,
the windows and the great doors were
done in black stone, which was polisheo
like ebony.
The frieze and sculptured scenes
were embellished with colors now all
lost except in one relief just discovered
by Mr.. Hcrzfeld. 1t had been Sneltered
from the weather under rubbish for
centuries. Now uncovered, 1t reveals the
Persian Emperor wearing a robe bord-
cred with scarlet and purple, shoes OF
scarlet, and other finery in royal hues.
1t was due to the disintegration and
final fall of the great mud-brick walls
that the newl discovered sculptures
were preserved and protected fromd the
ravages of weather and vandalism
through the nearly $500 years since
they were created.
Imposing Scene.
The subject matter Of the reliefs Is
L magnificent durbar representing
great group of Persian and Medlan Of
ficials standing with the gorgeous uni
formed palace guards OF the Persian
Emperor drawn up at one side to re-
ceive the ambassadors OF % subject
nations who APPROACH from the other
side bearing their tribute to Persia.
The execution of the scenes displays
unparalleled beauty and refinement OF
detail The palace guards, consisting OF
footmen, horsemen and characters,
form a superb ensemble. In the sculp-
tors representation of each chariot
wheel the bronze nail which was
dropped in the end of the axle outside
the hub to prevent the wheel from
slipping off is depicted in every detail,
and the upper half of each nail consists
Of beautifully sculptured female fig
ure carved with the delicacy of cameo
In an area not as large as a postage
stamp, the legs of the figure forming
the stem of the nail which is inserted
h the hole in the axle.
Stone-Age Village Unearthed.
"That such advanced civilization and
such imperial splendor should have
burst forth almost overnight Is, OF
course unthinkable," DR.. Breasted said,
In commenting upon DR.. Herzfeld's dis
covery. within two miles of PersepohS,
DR. Herzfeld found a small mound some
300 by 600 feet in area and only 10 or
IL feet in height which, when exca-
waited, has been found to cover a Stone
Age village in state of preservation |
surprising any such discovery ever
made heretofore. 1t dates from about
1000 B. c."
A narrow street runs through the
little settlement, and it is possible at
places for the visitor to look over the
tops OF the houses into the interiors.
The homes have windows, which lend
particular Importance to the discovery,
as they are the earliest known struc-
lures to make this provision for light
and ventilation. Household utensils
of pottery ware were found in the
homes. Mural decorations of red Ochre
water color are still discernible on some |
OF the walls.
In his report to DR. Breasted, DR.
HerZfeld heralds new era in the his
tory of early art with the discovery of
polychrome designs and motifs found
on the pottery. With the exception
of some potsherds of the Stone Age in
Babylonia the writes, the finds that
have come by Persepolis, both in age
and in beauty throw everything later
into the shade"
Further Research Assured.
Tr IIerzfe1d'S institute holds a con-
cession on all the ancient sites sur
rounding Persepolis within radius of
13 miles so that further research may
be assured.
Much of the art in the district was
DESTROYED by the Moslems during the
seventh and eighth Christian CEN
turies, according to Dr. Breasted. That
now unearthed was buried beneath the
debris of the fallen walls. The reliefs
remaining represent group of Persian
and Median officials surrounded by
uniformed palace guards receiving the
ambassadors of % subject nations con-
Stituting the old Persian empire.
"One tradition has It," said Dr..
Persepolis, that Alexander the Great
In 800 B. c.. sotted with wine and
urged on by his lady-love of the mo-
ment, set fire to the roof of one of
these palaces. and thus sent up in flame
and smoke supreme expression. of ORR
entail genius. 1t was disaster which
marked the end of the evolution of
Oriental civilization in Western Asia, |
and the destruction wrought by that |
conflagration devastated and wrecked
forever most of the works of art which
made the palaces Of Persepolis the great
world center of culture and civiliza-
Non under the Persian empire