Page:Archaeologia volume 38 part 1.djvu/219

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found in Central Italy. 191 I should add a few words on the material of which the vases are composed. It consists of a volcanic clay and sand ; the soil throughout this district, as it is well known, being volcanic. Visconti has given the analysis of some of the jars as follows : Silex .. Alumina . Carbonate of lime Water 100 But some of the vases being of a coarser and ruder manufacture, I re- quested Professor Quekett to* examine them, and he has obligingly furnished the following report : "The portions of vases examined both chemically and microscopically exhibit certain essential differences. The Latian specimens consist of very fine particles of silex mixed with alumina, and when treated with acid scarcely show any trace of effervescence. " The two specimens from Albano are composed of large rough particles of silica with very dark brown fragments of alumina and what appears to be a volcanic ash, some of the particles having a crystalline structure, others appearing as if they had before been subjected to the action of heat, for they have the same colour precisely as the outer crust. "One specimen (No. 1) is much coarser than No. 2, and is nearly of uniform colour (like that of garden mould) throughout ; the other is much more compact, and the action of fire is evident both on its internal and external surface. When treated with acid neither of them was much affected, the coarse one only showing slight signs of effervescence." The sequel to Visconti's narrative is to be found in Baron Bonstetten's work on Swiss Antiquities," published in 1855. He observes that the vases at first created a great sensation at Borne, but that, exorbitant prices having been asked for them, they ceased to be sought after. About this time Signor Carnevali died ; and his vases were deposited with Depoletti the dealer in antiquities. The Boman Govern- ment secured some of the most valuable, and placed them in the Gregorian Museum. Baron Bonstetten purchased another portion, consisting of several hut-urns and a Recueil d'Antiquit^s Suisses, fol. Leipsic, 1855.