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Presidential Address for 1934

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2013

L'Abbe Henri Breuil
L'Abbe Henri Breuil
Affiliation:
Professeur Au College de France
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Extract

I must first of all thank you, and more especially Professor Childe and Mr. Maynard, as colleagues and fellow-workers in the research of Prehistoric Man, for the special honour you have paid to my labours, by appointing me your President for this year. I owe, I think, this exceptional mark of esteem to the many personal friends I have amongst you and to the fact that you are particularly alive to the attention with which I have tried to follow the valiant efforts of many of you, and to absorb on the actual sites the unusually important stratigraphical facts which these efforts have helped to bring to light.

It was in 1898 that I came for the first time to your island, to study the Bronze Age of France at Nashmills, the home of your great fore runner, John Evans, one of the three English savants who gave their allegiance to Boucher de Perthes.

I came back again in 1904 to study the Bruniquel collection at the British Museum, where Charles Reid and Reginald Smith gave me a generous welcome. Haddon and Henry Balfour, by their small but very instructive books on the evolution of primitive art, opened for me hitherto unsuspected vistas on the ornamental art of the Reindeer Age. It is to them that I owe my introduction in 1912, to Miles Burkitt, whom I took with me when he was quite young on my Spanish explorations and excavations, and who is now one of your masters.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , 1934 , pp. 289 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1934

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References

page 289 note 2 Some years ago I published my views on the same subject in two short papers. “Les Pétroglyphes d'Irlande, notes de voyage,” Rev. Archéologique, 1921, XIII, pp. 75–8Google Scholar, and “A Study of the Chronology of Bronze-age Sculptures in Ireland” (in collaboration with Macalister, R. A. S.), Proc. R. Irish Academy, XXXVI, 1921, Section C, No. IGoogle Scholar.

page 290 note 1 As a general description of the monuments of Ireland, interpreted from a quite distinct point of view, see George, Coffey's, “Origins of Prehistoric Ornament in Ireland,” J.R. Soc. of Ant. of Ireland, 1894, p. 349Google Scholar; 1895, pp. 10, 195, 21l ff.; 1896, pp. 34–69; 1897, p. 28 ff. This work is very important from the point of view of the objects described, but it is hypnotised by alleged Oriental influence. A second important work by the same author, “New Grange and other incised Tumuli in Ireland”, Dublin, 1912, is also afflicted severely by the mirage oriental.

page 290 note 2 Proceedings of Royal Irish Academy, IX, p. 541Google Scholar.

page 291 note 1 Journal Kilkenny Arch. Soc, new series V, p. 499.

page 291 note 2 Note on a supposed Ogham inscription from Rus Glass (Cork), Journal of the Ethn. Soc., London, N.S. II, 1867–1868Google Scholar. Three stones, with parallel groves, or chevrons, and signs as T and H.

page 291 note 3 “Antiquity,” 1932, pp. 474–5Google Scholar. These drawings may be compared with some from Lough Crew (Fig. 8). The small dolmen of Ty-Ill Tyd, published by O. G. S. Crawford in his “Long Barrows of the Cotswolds,” has on the inner faces of three of its supporting stones various incised symbols of the same general character as those described here (Fig. 1, g). I do not feel they are Christian at all.

page 291 note 4 J. Kilkenny Arch. Soc., ibid., p. 354.

page 293 note 1 Lough Crew bibliography:—

Conwell, E. A., “On the identification of the Ancient Cemetery at Lough Crew,” P.R.I.A., 1872, p. 72Google Scholar.—Frazer, W., “Notes on incised sculpturing on stones in the cairns of Sliabh-na-Calliagh, near Lough Crew, county Meath, Ireland. With illustrations from a series of ground plans and water-colour sketches by the late G. V. Dunoyer,” P. Soc. Ant., XXVII, 1892–1893, pp. 294–340 (Important)Google Scholar. “Excursion to the Lough Crew Hills,” J. Soc. Ant. Ireland, 1895, p. 303Google Scholar.—Coffey, G., “Notes on the prehistoric cemetery of Lough Crew, with fasciculus of photographic illustrations on the sepulchral cairns,” Trans. R. Irish Academy, XXXI, 1897, part IIGoogle Scholar. (Important)—Rev.Rotheram, E. Crofton, “Inscribed Stones (Lough Crew),” P.R.S. Ant. of Ireland, 1898, p. 171Google Scholar. I received from M. Rotheram a number of unpublished copies of Lough Crew drawings and thank him for his kindness. Burkitt, H. B.—M. C., “Notes on the art upon certain megalithic monuments in Ireland,” I.P.E.K., 1926Google Scholar. (Photographs taken during our common visit to Ireland).

page 295 note 1 It is curious that small quartz pebbles, deeply worn on one face, have been found in France in the vicinity of the sculptured rocks of St. Aubin-Baubigné (Deux Sèvres); I have seen some in Scotland in the Edinburgh Museum, and even in South Africa, in districts where there are open-air engravings, some of which, in spite of their difference in age and style, have been regularised and repolished in the same manner.

page 296 note 1 Wakeman, W. F., “The Megalithic Sepulchral Chamber of Knockmany (County Tyrone),” Journ. of R. Hist. and Arch. Ass. of Ireland, 1876, pp. 95–106Google Scholar. “On several Sepulchral Scribings and Rock Markings, found in the N.W. of Ireland, with suggestions for their Classification” (dealing with Deer-Park and Cloverhill), Ibid., July 1881.—Coffey, G., “Knockmany,” J. R. Soc. of Antiq. of Ireland, 1898, pp. 93–111Google Scholar. “Prehistoric Grave at Sesskilgreen,” J. R. Soc. Antiq. Ireland, 1911, pp. 175–179Google Scholar.—Wood-Martin, W. G., The Rude Stone Monuments of Ireland (Co. Sligo and the Island of Achill, Dublin, 1888. Cloverhill, p. 94–99Google Scholar. Pagan Ireland. London, 1895, chap. XIII, pp. 540–576Google Scholar. Ronan, Myles V. and Gógan, L. S., “The Dun Laoghaire Inscribed and Ornamental Stone,” Pr. R. Soc. Antiq. Ireland, 1932, p. 214 ffGoogle Scholar.—Leask, H. G., “Inscribed Stones recently discovered at Dowth Tumulus, Co. Meath,” Proc. R. Irish Acad., 1933, XLI, sect. C No. 5, pp. 162–167Google Scholar.

page 300 note 1 Coffey, , New Grange, etc., p. 32, Fig. 10Google Scholar.

page 300 note 2 Ibid., Figs. 54 and 62.

page 304 note 1 Coffey, New Grange, etc., Figs. 57–59.

page 304 note 2 Ibid., Fig. 5.

page 304 note 3 Ibid., Figs. 24 and 59.

page 305 note 1 Ibid., Fig. 58.

page 305 note 2 Coffey, New Grange, etc., Fig. 58.

page 306 note 1 Anderson, , “Scotland in Pagan Times,” 1886, pp. 88–89Google Scholar: Stones of Carnwath and Kilmartin.

page 306 note 2 Simpson, T., “On Ancient Sculptures of Cups and Concentric Rings,” Proc. Soc. of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1864–1865, VI, appendixGoogle Scholar. Quite important study for the time, but the drawing of Cardoness slab is rather inaccurate (pl. xiii, 3).

page 307 note 1 Crow, T. H., Proc. Soc. Antiq. of Scotland. LXIV, 1930, p. 133Google Scholar (cist of Ri Cruin with eight copper axes); LXV, 1931, p. 272 (cairns at Poltallock (Argyll): copper axes, one with the handle, circle or rectangles. One of the Gavrinis slabs is also ornamented with figures of axes, perhaps of copper, but in relief, instead of hollowed. See J. Simpson, op. cit., pl. xiii, 1.

page 307 note 2 The Coilsfield slab was the object of a communication by Colonel Hugh Montgomery to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1785 (D. Wilson, op. cit., 1863); Wilson cited also two other slabs with decoration from cists at Craigie Hall and Bernaldy Moor.

page 307 note 3 On the cylindrical Portuguese statuettes, the hair is represented thus, but on the back of the figure.

page 309 note 1 Fergusson, , Rude Stone Monuments, p. 157Google Scholar.

page 310 note 1 Childsgrave, , “Barrow at Folkton, East Riding, Yorkshire,” Archoeologia, LII, pp. 14–25, Pl. I, IIGoogle Scholar.

page 310 note 2 Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist, April, 1897, p. 102Google Scholar.—Proc. Soc. Antiq. of Scotland, 1897, p. 407Google Scholar. L. Maclellan Mann, “The Carved Stone Balls of Scotland,” ibid., May, 1914.

page 311 note 1 Excavations at the Stone Axe Factory of Graig Lwyd (Penmaen-mawr). J.R.A.I., LI, 1921, p. 194Google Scholar.

page 312 note 1 Lamb, G., “Cup-marked Stone found near Edinburgh,” Riliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist, October, 1897, pp. 231, 232Google Scholar. I could not agree with the drawings of this paper.

page 312 note 2 Tempest, H. G. and Gogan, L. S., “Bronze Age Carved Stone, Carrickrobin,” Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society, 1933, pp. 387–390Google Scholar.

page 314 note 1 Coffey, Origin, etc., op. cit., J.R.S.A.I., VII, and New Grange, op. cit., p. 78.

page 314 note 2 Rev.Graves, James, “On Cup and Circles Sc. as occurring in Ireland,” J. of R. I. Hist. and Antiq., April, 1877Google Scholar.

page 314 note 3 Rare face patterns composed of concentric ovals and a double central symmetric curl (Fig. 38, 13) are found with very simple drawings of animals and boats at Bardal (Norway), superposed on animals in naturalistic style, probably Maglemosian. Hallström, G., “No dskandinaviska Hällristningar: II., De Norska Ristningarna,” Fornvännen, 1908, pp. 49–86Google Scholar.

page 314 note 4 Yong, Hugh W., “The Graves of Ardkeiling, Strypes,” The Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist, 1897, p. 41Google Scholar.

page 316 note 1 Obermaier, H., El Dolmen de Matarrubilla (Sevilla), Comision de Investigaciones Paleontológicas y Prehistóricas, Memoria 26, Madrid, 1919. pl. iv, vGoogle Scholar.

page 317 note 1 Coles, Fred. R., “Cup and Ring-marked Rock, Stronach Ridge, Brodick,” Pr. Soc. Ant. ScotlandGoogle Scholar.

page 317 note 2 Allen, T. Romilly, “The Cup and Ring Sculptures of Ilkley,” The Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist, 1896, p. 65Google Scholar.

page 318 note 1 See Simpson, op. cit., which remains a very important book on the question.—Rev.Graves, T., “On Cup-and-Circle Sculptures occurring in Ireland,” J. of R. Hist. and Arch. Assoc. of Ireland, 1877, p. 283Google Scholar. — Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Fifth Report. On Galloway. Vol.II, Stewartry of Kircu Ibright. 1914. Many rocks with cup-and-ring designs.

page 319 note 1 Orpen, Goddard H., “Carved Stone near Holywood (Wicklow),” P.R.I.A., 1911, p. 183Google Scholar; R. Soc. of Antiq. of Ireland, 1926, p. 51Google Scholar.

page 319 note 2 Franz, Leonhard, “Alt Europäisch Tänze,” Mitt. Anthr. Gesellsch. Wien, LXIII, 1933, p. 205 ffGoogle Scholar.

page 319 note 3 Proc. R. Irish Acad., XXXIV, 1919, pl. viiiGoogle Scholar.

page 321 note 1 Scientific Documents of the Foureau–Lamy Mission, I by Foureau, F., 1905, I, II, Fig. 381, etc., pps. 1074, 1076, 1083, 1085, 1087Google Scholar.

page 321 note 2 Leask, H. G., Proc. R. Irish Acad., 13 April, 1933Google Scholar.

page 322 note 1 Macalister, R. A. S., A burial carn on Seefin Mountain, Co. Wicklow. J. R. S. Antiquaries, Ireland. 1932. p. 153–7, (Fig. 3)Google Scholar.

page 322 note 2 R. Soc. of Antiq. of Ireland, 31, XII, 1932Google Scholar.