Archaeology Magazine - September 1959 - 68

the Gilgamesh motif "of the Sumerian
age" (page 151). And one may cavil
with the failure to refer the reader to
anything more substantial on the
Ziwiye (Sakiz) Treasure than Ghirshman's popular Penguin book on Iran
or to illustrate any of its objects when
it is discussed at length as one of the
oldest sources of Scythian art.
The book is authoritative in its reconstructionof the tenor and mechanics
of Scythian life, nomadic or settled. It
is presented with clarity and an emotional warmth appropriate to the subject. In any of the more specialized
areas of study, it must be used with
rauf-inn.
°
John M. Rosenfeld
Universityof California
Los Angeles
MANIN NORTHAMERICA,
ANCIENT
by
H. M. Wormington. xviii, 322 pages,
72 figures, map. Denver Museum of
Natural History, Denver 1957 (Denver Museum of Natural History Popular Series, No. 4) $3.65 (paper
bound); $5.25 (cloth bound)
The most recent edition of this invaluable book, first published in 1939,
reflectsthe snowballingof information

regarding early inhabitants of the New
World, for the first edition covered
the subject in eighty pages.
The author first discusses briefly
some aspects of Pleistocene geology.
Next she outlines dating in terms of
geological setting, stratigraphy, and
the more recent development, radiocarbon measurement.
Her section on stone industries covers significantfinds of artifacts attributable to early occupants of the
continent, embracing not only fluted
points of what she terms the Paleoeastern Tradition, but the less well
known material of the Paleowestern
Tradition, as well as the Paleonorthern
Tradition. A few finds which do not
belong clearly in any of these categories are also mentioned. The author
also refers to certain locations at which
there may have been contact between
early hunters and people of the Archaic stage.
The section devoted to human skeletal remains is a factual account of
finds of human remains which may
validly be assigned some antiquity.
The chapter on the peopling of
North America reviews hypothesesregarding the early coming of man to

CHOICE
EGYPTIAN,

BABYLONIAN,
and

«V
m ¥rl

^«3
Sir
Wmmmm

Circa480B.c.
Lekythosshowing
Dionysus&Ariadne,
Maenadanda

216

the New World. Because there is not
sufficientinformation, the author cannot be definite in this respect, and this
may be annoying to some who look
for a quick answer. The fact is that we
are in no position to do more than
make "scientificguesses"about the discovery and exploitation of the New
World by primitive man.
If one would point out any shortcomingsin the book he would be hard
put to it. Perhaps one would wish that
the discussionwere in terms of Ancient
Man himself rather than his implements. Data have accumulated to the
point where it is possible to make an
"educated guess" regarding the life
which these people must have led. To
this reviewer it is regrettable that the
author did not devote more attention
to the inventories of tools associated
with the points which she so ably discusses. Striking similarities may be
noted between tools found at the
Lindenmeier site, in Colorado, and
tools found at paleo-Indian sites in
eastern states; this has considerable
bearing on interpreting the status of
the eastern sites. It is possible to account for the similaritiesin one of two
ways: either extreme conservatismal-

and RARE
GREEK,

ROMAN

PERSIAN

ANTIQUITIES
From 5000 b.c. to the 12th Century a.d.
Glass in antiquity, finely iridescent as a result of burial, Sumerian and Babylonian clay tablets, with cuneiform writings,
archaic terra cotta statuettes, priestesses, musicians, etc. Greek
and Etruscan painted terra cotta vases, Egyptian bronze deity
figures, and faience ushabtiu, inscribed.
Also canopic jars, necklaces, scarabs, papyrus, carved wood
masks, and Coptic embroidered linen pieces, Roman bronzes,
figures, and various unusual objects, Persian glazed potteries,
beautiful painted decorations.
Every Piece Guaranteed Absolutely Authentic.
Unearthed

all over the Middle East, over a period of many

Susette
Khayat
ANCIENT ARTS GALLERY
505 FIFTH AVE.,Room 502A,NEW YORK 17, N. Y.
Afternoons only
Tel. Mu 2-7285
No Dealers

Archaeology Magazine - September 1959

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - September 1959