ment is used; such as there is, consists of short dotted lines and is disposed diagonally around the rim. The urns are of coarse, thick, red pottery, adorned in some cases with incised crude ornament.

This site is still an inexhaustible field of archaeological research of the most valuable description. The deposits, if fully excavated, would stock several museums with objects of the most interesting description, for almost every excavation brings to light something new. Many prehistoric sites have been examined in India, but none so extensive in its results as this. Large tracts at Ādichanallūr are yet untouched. The high ground on the east, within the limits of Ādichanallūr village, had anciently been a village site. In digging this ground, about a foot of deposited gravelly soil was found on the surface washed down from the higher ground. Below that, to a depth of about six feet, ashes mixed with the bones and horns of animals, broken pottery, etc., in short, the usual debris of a village site, were found.

From experience, it was possible to judge at the very commencement of the excavation of an urn, whether to expect a gold diadem in it or not, for generally the urns that contain diadems are at a great depth, and are overlaid with heavy stones. Out of many urns excavated, only a few gold ornaments were found, evidently in the case of persons of rank or importance. When the covering stones were removed, we first got a large supply of pottery, then several articles, such as weapons of iron, some of which have had wooden handles; and bronze vessels, lids or ornamental objects. These were in large numbers both inside and outside the urns.

The comparative rarity of bronze objects and their use for personal ornaments, show that this metal must have been scarce, highly valued, and used only by the higher class of people. Thus the people of those days appear to have been skilful in moulding pottery, in casting or working metals, in weaving and in working stone and wood. The ornamentation of the pottery consists only of embossed dots and incised lines, for the most part in triangular or simple geometrical designs. The bronzes exhibit a high degree of skill in workmanship and manipulation of the metal, while the same may be said of the iron implements. All this confirms historical accounts as to the early skill of Indians in the working of metals.