A RACE OF AMAZONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 885, 3 August 1910, Page 5

A RACE OF AMAZONS.

NEW WOMEN OF LONG AGO. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, August 1. Excavations in an Iron Age necropolis at Bolinonte, in Piceno, Italy, bavo revealed two rich tombs containing the bodies of female warriors lying under war chariots. It is believed this is historic proof that Amazons existed.

PREVIOUS FINDS AT- BELJIONTE. The Amazons are a race of women represented in Greek mythology as having lived in the north-east of Asia Minor, near tho shore of the Black &a, and ns there having formed an independent State with a queen at its head. Jiphcsns and several other towns of Asia Minor wero described in Greek legend as having been founded by Amazons. Some of theso Amazons, however, wore supposed to navti como from Africa. Later, in tho time of Cyrus, colour was lent io tho legends by tho inroads of barbarians under a femalo leader.

At the end of October Inst Professor Dellosso mado a most important archaeological find at Bolmonte, in Picono. A tomb was excavated, which contained no fewer than four bigac (two-horsed chariots) and a largo number of other articles in bronze, including three helmets, eight lances, a cylinder covered with figures of warriors and lions, aud it number nf vases with handles. A detailed report is now being prepared. Belmonto is on tho river Terma, a littlo south of Monte Giorgio. The discovery is most interesting to archaeologists, as hitherto only small portions of bigao havo been obtained, and, unluckily, tombs in which they wero have always been destroyed before proper examination could bo made of them. A very curious cuirass was found, the breast-plato aud back-plate of leather covered with thin bronze plates aud attached to each other with bronzo shoulder fastenings. Four helmets, greaves for the legs, and nine lances, with eome short swords in their sheaths—the latter of wood, which has disappeared almost entirely—complete the armour, which is in very fair condition of preservation. Tho tomb l must havo been of some chieftain, as traces of only ono skeleton have been found. Professor Dellosso is inclined to date it about the seventh century B.C. It was, of course, to be expected that all the wooden parts of tho chariots and arms should have gone to powder, and, fortunately, it would seem that in their CHSt thore will be littlo difficulty in putting tho bronzo remains in place again.