TWO STONE IDOLS FROM ASIA MINOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

BY

A. T. OLMSTEAD

The Oriental Museum of the University of Illinois received for examination in 1924 two objects from a New York dealer. Aside from the statement that the objects had been found at Kiil Tepe in ancient Cappadocia, the only information offered by the dealer was the decision of an unnamed European archaeologist that they were intended to be used as watches ! No such objects had been seen on the writer's visit to Kiil Tepein the Autumn of 1907 nor had any been offered for sale in the bazaars of Kaisarieh. Search of the pertinent literature showed no parallels. Centered circles, similar to those on the two objects, had been observed on pottery fragments found by the writer in eastern Asia Minor. This fact seemed to prove their authenticity and the objects were purchased.

Publication was delayed through lack of time and the failure to detect parallels. At the Urbana meeting of the Middle West Branch, American Oriental Society, March 16th, 1928, the Oriental Museum was inspected by the visiting orientalists. Professor Ferris J. Stephens of Culver-Stockton College informed the curator that he had just received a pre-print of an article by Dr. G. Contenau on similar objects preserved at the Louvre. Through the mediation of Professor Stephens, the curator received a copy of this article by Dr. Contenau, Idoles en pierre provenant de l' Asie Mineure, dans Syria, VI1I, 1927, 193ff. With this came an invitation from the editor of Syria, M. R. Dussaud, to furnish a note to this Journal on the objects preserved at the University of Illinois. To all three gentlemen, heartiest lhanks are extended.

It is needless to repeat in this brief note what has been so well said by Dr. Contenau. In general, the writer is in agreement with the conclusions there presented. A few supplementary observations are alone needed.