GREECE 3000 YEARS AGO

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1924, Page 4

GREECE 3000 YEARS AGO

SADDLE HOOFS CSFD. STOCKHOLM. July 1. Crown Prince Oustaf Adolf, heading the Swedish areliaelogienl expedition, which is excavating the ancient city ol Asine, Greece, has unearthed evidence that the so-called saddle root "’as known in (ircece more than IKK!!* years ago. The acrhitecture of that Mycenaean, or pro-Hellenic, period is partly illustrated by fragments and ruins found at Mycenae. It has long been a question whether these houses had Hat or sloping roofs, hut word has just come from ft recce that the Swedes at Asine have discovered and explored a tomb, which, no one has entered or disturbed for HOT) years, and have found that lliis tomb is in the shape of a house, about 21 feet square, cut into the rock, with the top cut into the exact- form of a saddle-roof, with two sloping sides and gables at the ends. The Crown Prince’s expedition, which has now been at work a number, of years, has just completed the spring term of excavation, and is returning to Sweden in order to make a scientific study of the treasures found. Up to date more than 500,000 important treasures and fragments have been, found, which are being classified and studied at Lund University, by special permission of the Creel; Government, to which the hulk of the finds must- eventually he returned. The finds include decorated vases, funeral urns, gold ornaments, silver and copper coins, etc., which illustrate the civilisation and art during thousands of years of history in Aisne. This city, situated on the Greek Peloponnessus. flourished and fell a number of times during the preChristian era. And a discovery just made by the Swedish expedition points to a surprising gap in its history. The excavators. . after having cleared, the strata which contained relics dating to about 3C08.C.. found that the level directly beneath this contained n layer of relies undoubtedly belonging to,a period about 1600 B.C. The Scientists are now hoping that other excavations may throw some light on what had liappen-

One of the most important discoveries made at Aisuo this year is that of a house which expert archaelogists from other countries pronounce the first house of the geometric period thus far excavated. A description of this house is, however, not now available.

The Swedish expedition will resume its field work in the autumn of this year.