ARCHEOLOGY AS AN AID TO THE HISTORIAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 43, 12 August 1892, Page 15

ARCHEOLOGY AS AN AID TO THE HISTORIAN.

The following is a condensed report of a paper read by Mr F. \V« Petre, before the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society :—: — The lecturer proceeded to describe the various opinions held as to the proper and full significance of the science of archaeology, showing how some, from its Greek meaning of " all things that are old," conclude that it should take a very wide scope, from Dr Pritchard's claim to include palaeontology to certain eminent geologists, who hold that their own particular study should form part of the archaeologist's labours. The lecturer did not hold with others who took a contrary and more contracted idea when claiming to circumscribe the science in question within the limits of Greek aud Roman antiquities, but held with the majority of authorities tbat the best definition was that which describes archaeology as the deduction of history from the relics of the past which owe their existence to the hand of man. Passing from a description of the duties of the geologist in evolving the history of the world from the earth's construction to the first discovery of the remains of man's woiks, when the archaeologist takes up the historian's role, the lecturer, cod fining himself within the bounds of architectural remains only, proceeded to show how the close study and rebearch of such authorities as Mr Godfrey Higgins, Mr Jacob Bryaut, and others had traced out mans history in the earliest agea of the world. The first names of these

authorities, dealing vUtb the traces of the works left by the Druids of the British Isles, shows how a race of people, learned and enlightened, can be traced back through the various countries of Europe to one common centre on the borders cf the Caspian Sea, thus coufirming the story of tbe repeopling of the earth from the point of dispersion as described in the Holy Scriptures. It is shown how from the borders of the Caspian Sea a race spread and were the earliest occupiers of Greece, Italy, France, Britain, and Ireland, arriving at these points along the 45th parallel of North latitude, also how colonieß advanced from the Bame centre along a southern line through Asia, Sym, and Africa, arriving at last by the Straits of Gibraltar. Fhese conclusions are not only shown to be drawn by the architectural remains, but it is further shown that the languages of the western world were the same and that the Irish Druid's syslem of letters was common to the British Islee, Italy, Greece, Syria, Arabia, Persia and Hindostan. Mr Jacob Bryant connects this race with the Cyclopean works. This conclusion is largely drawn from the comparison of the remains of such places as Tiryns and Puratheia with the single stones, circles of stones, sacrificial stones, cromlechs, logan or rocking stones, and the dolmen or colossal stones which are tn be traced through all the countries aDove-mentioned. It is also pointed out how the practice of erecting single Btones is constantly recorded in Scripture, as in the case of Jacob's Btone which he called " Bethel," which i 3 repeated by the single stones in Cornwall erected by Phoenicians and which are still called " Bethel." It is shown how the ancient Greeks being ignorant of their own history treated the records of the Cyclops as those of a race of monsters with a single eye in the middle of their heads. These misconceptions arising from tha magnitude of their worka in the first place, and in the second, from the fact of their being great lighthouse builders, in which a round casement in the upper floor afforded light to the mariner. The fame of the Oyclopeana as mighty builders is instanced, when the Sybil in Virgil shows Aeneas the place of torment in the shades below. The poet separates it from the regions of bliss by a Cyclopean wall. Ona of the most extraordinary connecting links which brings the Bast and the West together in past history is the extraordinary similarity between the Treasury of Atreus at Myceoe, which is still in a comparatively perfect state of preservation, and the remains at New Grange near Drogbeda. Arcbjeology as an aid to the Christian historian in proving the antiquity of the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church is invaluabe, as has been found from tbe explorations of the catacombs in Rome. Also in counteracting the contention of those historians who would have us believe tbat the medieval times were ages of darkness as far as the action of the Church and her works are concerned, for not only are the architectural relics of those ages, but also many fine buildings of that time still in good order and preservation, ample proof both of the purposes for which they were built aud, also by the extraordinary merit of their architecture, evidence to what an extent civilisation under tbe care of the Church had progressed in those socalled " Daik Ages."