Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/144

96 works on its banks, to Panama; that the ancient remains of the Mississippi Valley appeared to present most analogy to those of Europe, differing chiefly in their material. He declared his conviction, however, that nothing had hitherto been discovered in America, sufficing to show connexion with the Old World. He observed, that in the United States, where there are no sculptures, properly so called, numerous inscriptions, or rude delineations by the Indians, exist. One of these, known as the Dighton rock, had attracted notice as early as 1668, and was regarded by Colonel Yallancey and other writers as Phenician. (Archæologia, vol. viii. p. 290.) Mr. Squier believed their conclusions to be wholly erroneous.

Mr. pointed out a singular specimen amongst the numerous engravings which Mr. Squier had kindly brought for inspection, presenting in the principle of ornamentation a striking resemblance to Anglo-Saxon work, in the continuous fret formed of two bands. Mr. Squier stated that this object was unique: the ornament occurred on a round stone for grinding maise, dug up at Leon, in sinking a well.

By Dr. —Three Egyptian figures, coated with blue porcelain, described by Mr. Birch as of the kind usually placed in the mummy-cases, and formed of calcareous stone, ebony or sycamore wood, &c. They all bear similar inscriptions, a religious formula, taken from the "Book of the Dead." They are intended to represent a mummied body, and hold in one hand a hoe, being, as supposed, representations of the workmen or assistants attendant on the defunct in the Elysian fields. As many as 2000 have been found placed in a single chest around a mummy. Mr. Birch considered the figures in Dr. Mantell's collection to be remarkably good specimens; their date, about seven centuries

Dr. Mantell exhibited also a remarkable ball, found in an urn in a tumulus near Brighton. It appears to be a nodule of chert, coated with a hard paste, in which are formed seven circular ornaments of a reddish-brown colour, each circle enclosing a star of eight points. The diameter of the ball is about 2½ inches.

The Rev., D.D., Rector of Slymbridge, communicated another ball precisely similar in form, composition, and ornament. It was found near the rectory at that place. A representation of this curious relic will be given hereafter.

By Mr. —Several antique Roman bronzes, the mouth of a bronze vessel, with heads of Silenus and a wolf, two weights, and a bronze lamp.—Also ten mediæval relics of bronze, some interesting rings and ancient beads.

By Mr. —A large bead of agate, finely polished, and two massive penannular armlets of bronze, each weighing about 12 oz.; one of them had been broken in two. These are formed of rounded bars of metal, rather more than ½ in. diameter, the thickness slightly increasing towards the disunited ends. These interesting relics were disinterred in a tumulus in the Scilly Islands. No other object was found, as reported, with them, excepting a flat perforated disc of stone, diam. about 1¾ in.

Mr., Curator of the Taunton Museum, sent, at the request of the Rev. F. Warre, several specimens of the pottery found on Worle Hill, Somerset, as previously described. (Journal, vol. viii. p. 417) Although