21 JANUARY 1938, Page 18

AN ARCHAEOLOGIST'S FINDS

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—Some years ago, I noticed an article, if I remember rightly, in The Spectator, describing the similarity of certain signs found on stone and on pottery in Easter Island, in excavations done in the Valley of the Indus and in Mesopotamia. Probably few people in England will have heard of the remark- able discoveries made by a Frenchman, M. Emile Roger Wagner, director of the Archaeological Museum of Santiago del Estero.

M. Wagner informs me that he has found in that province of Argentina, some 2,400 ancient spindle-knobs (" fusaieoles " in French). Of this number, no fewer than 52 specimens are almost absolutely identical with others dug up by Professor Schliemann amongst the ruins of ancient Troy. Some years ago, we found one here, when digging some foundations and we took it to be some ancient button ; but the design of a flower was similar to those on a photograph sent me by M. Wagner, illustrating specimens from Troy and from the Chaco of Santiago del Estero.

A further proof of the close connexion which must have existed in prehistoric times between continents which are now submerged, is supplied by the symbol of an eye on the palm of a hand, which probably had some religious origin. We read in the Bible, Isaiah XLIX, 16 : " Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands ; . . ." This sign is found according to M. Wagner in some of the ancient pottery of Santiago del Estero, in that of Peru, Mexico, Porto Rico, and according to Clarence B. Moore, in earthenware pots found at Moundsville (Arkansas). It is also found in Alaska. It appears again in New Mecklenburg off the coast of New Guinea and on the statue of an idol or god in the Island of Java according to Dr. Jehan Mueller.—Yours faithfully,

E. J. SCHIELE. Estancia " El Manzano," Monte Ralo, F.C.C.A. Argentina.