Notices of Archaeological publications.
DIE BURG TANNENBERG UND IHRE AUSGRABUNGEN, Bearbeitet von Dr. J. von Hefner und Dr. J. W. Wolf. Frankfurt am Main, 1850.
This volume has a double interest ; first, the articles found in the exca- vations of the Castle of Tannenberg- are of the most interesting character ; and secondly, it has been their good fortune to find chroniclers who, for clearness of description, exactness of delineation, and familiarity with medieval usages, have few equals in Europe. The first thirty pages of the book before us are devoted to the history of the castle, the adventures of its lords, the assaults of its walls, its relation with the surrounding country, its decay and downfall. Then follows a cluster of legends connected with the old towers, charmingly wild and amusing, but too nearly resembling a fairy tale character for extract in these pages. Next comes a collection of records, selected from the town archives and other original sources ; followed by copious notes, illustrative not only of the subject in hand, but of middle-age practices generally. Lastly is given an account of the excavations in 1849 among the castle ruins, accompanied with admi- rable plates (twelve in number) of the principal objects found. Among these are encaustic tiles, of patterns in vogue about 1300, ornamental stove tiles of the same period, fictile ware in curious variety, domestic and artificers' instruments, scales, locks, adzes, cleavers, and so forth ; and, lastly, relics of knightly equipment, swords, daggers, helmets, spurs.
Among the articles of domestic employment are the remains of a stone quern, or hand-mill ; and the editor has given a subject from an illuminated manuscript of the fourteenth century in his possession, which admirably shows the manner of using the mill. It will be especially interesting to the members of our society, as illustrative of the remarks on ancient querns made at the December meeting (see page 393). To the ceiling of the room, imme- diately over the quern, is affixed a piece of iron, having a hole in it. Near the edge of the upper mill- stone is another hole. In these holes is placed a staff', and then a female, seated beside the apparatus, taking hold of the staff", revolved the mill ; the iron ring in the ceiling retaining the staff' in a ver- tical position, A sketch of the mill, with the fair millers at work, will, however, better explain the proceeding than any account we can give. Mode of using the hamJ-mill ; from an iUumiuateJ MS. XIV. cent.
