Page:Excavations at the Kesslerloch.djvu/11



my kind friend Dr. Ferdinand Keller, the President of the Society of Antiquaries at Zurich, who frequently keeps me informed of what is going on in the archaeology of his district, sent to me the first part of the Proceedings of his Society for the present year. It contained an account of the Excavation at the Kesslerloch, a cave of the Reindeer period near Schaffhausen. The moment I saw it it struck me that it was of very great interest; and it occurred to me very forcibly that it ought to be translated into English. This idea was communicated to Dr. Keller, and he at once assented, and very kindly allowed me to have lithographic transfers from the Society's plates; so that the drawings now before the reader are the actual original sketches.

Such is the origin of the present little volume. I cannot think that I am wrong in considering the excavation in this cave as one of the most interesting which has been made for years; and though it must be confessed that the following report is by no means perfect—that it is defective in some parts and redundant in others—yet it is a wonderful production for a young author, for such in fact is the excavator of the Kesslerloch.

In certain cases where it appears to me that the author is not quite correct I have ventured on adding notes stating