Sequences in Prehistoric Remains
Author(s): W. M. Flinders Petrie
Source: The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 29,
No. 3/4 (1899), pp. 295-301
Published by: Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2843012
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(
290 )
SEQUENCES IN PREHISTORIC REMAINS.
BY PROFESSORW. M. FLINDERS PET1RIE,D.C.L., LL.D.
[WITH PLATES XXXI TO XXXIII.]
THE conveniently
vague term,"prehistoric,"
lhasbeen generallythoughtto excuse
ourignorance,
and to renderfurther
inquiryneedlessbecause it would be inconclusive. To attainto a broaddivisionintowidelydistinctperiodsand styles,such
as pakeolithic
and neolithic,
was perhapsa tolerablysafeventure;buttheutmost
that has been yet attemptedis a divisioninto a few well-marked
varieties,as
Mousterien,
Acheullien,etc.,or Mykeiuean,Dipylon,Hallstattian,etc.,forlater
ages. It has been,perhaps,theresultof carelessand incompleteobservation
and
of discoveries,
registration
that thehabit has arisenof defininig
onlylargeperiods
withoutsubdivisions,
and describinig
a periodby the name of a locality,which
conveysno idea ofrelationto otherperiods.
But it maybe said thatin dealingwithagesbeforeanywritten
recordofyears
no reference
to timeordatesis possible. In the narrowest
sensethismaybe true.
Yet themainvalueofdatesis to showthe sequenceofevents;and it wouldmatter
verylittleif thetime fromAugustusto Constantinehad occupiedsix centuries
insteadof three,or if Alexanderhad lived onlytwo centuriesbeforeAugustus.
The orderofeventsand therelationofone country
to another
is themainessential
of history. Indeed,the tacit commonsense
of historiansagreesin treatingthe
periodsofgreatactivityand production
morefullythanthearidages ofbarbarism,
and so substituting
a scale of activityas the standardratherthan a
practically
a scale of years.
no fallacyto portionoutthepast bythe ratioofevents
It wouldbe,therefore,
ratherthanby theseasons; and to measurehistoryby thestagesof thoughtand
actionof man ratherthan by inanimatecelestialmotions. In this truestsense,
of reducingthe prehistoric
ages to a historical
then,we may have a possibility
themas readilyas historictimes. If somescale an(dratio
sequence,and defilning
ofhumanactivitiescan be adopted,we maymeasurethe past by means of it as
as we do by yearsB.C.
definitely
were complete,it is clear that we might,for
Supposingour information
scale foreveryhundredobjectsofimian's
instance,assignone degreein an arbitrary
past thathave survivedto ourtime,and so obtaina reasonableseriesof" sequenice
dates"-as we may call them-for any period hithertounmeasured. Such
sequencedateswouldhave varyingrelationto a scale ofyearsin different
partsof
thescale,but wouldbe,at least,a reasonablesystemof denotingthe past,which
whichis
wouldgivethatpowerofexactexpression
in commonly
understood
terms,
296
PROF. W. M. FLINDERSPETRIE.-Seqtences i'n Prehistoric-Remains.
treatment.The sequencedatesofone counitry
thenecessarybasisofany scientific
by dliscoveries
of con1counltry
woulclhave to be correlatedto thoseof aniother
nections; butit wouldat leastbe a greatgainto be able to expresssucha relation
ofa periodnamed
in a simplesystemofdatinginsteadofsomeelaboratedefinition
fromii
one place beingequivalentto theearlieror laterpartofa periodnamedfroi
someother.
So farwe haveonly been lookingat thedesirable,withoutany statementof
mayseemto be merelya " pious
the practical;and sequencedatesin prehistory
wish." Yet this abstractview of the matterhas arisen froma verypractical
ofa largemiassofmaterial,out ofwhichit has growil.
treatment
The most practicalscale of sequencedates in Egypt,and perhapsin most
is theproportion
ofburials. The numberof burials
civilisations,
otherprehistoric
in each centurywill,of coturse,
varywiththepopulation;yetso doestheimpoltance of a countryvary,and also ourinterestin it,to some extent. Nothingcan
ofburialsif our researchesare fairly
be so readilyascertainedas the proportions
to be largelyoverlappingothersin relative
spread,and if we findeach cemetery
cemeteriesthenumberof
age. For theperiodcoveredby a seriesof overlapping,
tombsmaybe takenas a mostrationalbasis ofsequencedates. Thus each ulnitof
an equal numberof personsabove a certainlow standardof
datingrepresents
wealthand culture. If,then,we couldtreata largenumberoftombs-a thousand
or more-whichhad no blank periodsbetweenthem,and arrangethem in their
origilnal
order,we shouldhave a rationalbasis forsequencedates; theymightbe
equal
dividedintounitsoftwentytombs,forinstance,and so brokenup into fifty
divisions;thenanyfreshtomblike some otherin the scale could be simplyand
exactlydefinedas being of some sequence date,such as 23 or 38, as the case
be.
miglht
Further,everyproductcould be datedin its relationto others,by sayingthat
it beganin,say,18 S.D.and went out in 25 S.D. This would be just as valuable
fora relativehistoryof a civilisationas being able to write5400 to 4800 B.C.for
the age of some weapon or ornament. This resultis what we have actually
attainedfromsuch an amountofmaterialas I have su,ggested
above; and this
no abstractview,but has beenreallyworkedout. I nowturnto
systemis fromi
themethodsforextractingsuchresults.
The firststep is to forma coyptusof drawings,each class of objectsby
themselves.For practicalpurposesit is well to workonlyfrompotteryto begin
copied fromearlierexamplesthan
with; forit is less likelyto be intentionally
workwhichis in morevaluable material,and it is muchless likelyto be handed
down fromgenerationto generationthan are the weaponsofmetalor carvingin
in varietyor quantity,
hard stone. In countrieswherepotteryis insufficient,
then otherobjectsmust be taken into consideration.It seems best in such a
corpusto denoteeach class ofpotteryor objectsby a letter(an initialletterofthe
class, if possible); and then all the formsby numbersadded to that letter,as
H 16 for the hangingstonevase No. 16, D 73 forthe decoratedpotteryNo. 73.
PROF.W. M. FLINDERS
in Prehistoric
Remainns. 297
PETR1E.-SequThces
It is preferableto spreadall the types over niotmorethani99 numbersin each
betweentypes
class so as to avoid threefigures;wherethereis muchdifferelice
one or morenumlbers
may be left blank formarkinglater discoveriesof interofa typelettersmaybe added,
mediateforms;wherethereare manysubvarieties
P 28
as P 28a, P 28b,P 28c; thus if thetype cannotbe exactlydistinguished,
alone can be used forit. The corpusofprehistoric
Egyptianpotterycontains917
forms.
Havinig,then,a full coqpus,numberedin a systematicorder,thecontentsof
everygrave shouldbe registeredin this notation. And thena cardcatalogueof
on a narrowslip I ilnch
gravesshould be made,each grave-group
beiilgwritteln
wide. Practicallythe slips are best ruled in coluinnsfordifferenlt
classes of
pottery;each columnwide enioughto take in the numberof typesin any one
grave. Actuallythe slips are 7 incheslong,ruled in ten columns,forthepre.historicEgyptian. About 900 slips have been used together,
the
representing
bestgravesselectedfromamongover4,000.
The nextworkis to place theseas faras possiblein the originalorderofthe
graves. For thisthereare fivemethods,
basedon thefollowing
considerations:ofgravesor burials; butrarelyfound.
1st. Actualsuperposition
2nd. Series of developmentor degradationof form; veryvaluable if
unimpeachable.
3rd. Statisticalgroupingby proportionate
resemblance;the basis for
classifying
largegroups.
4th. Groupingof similartypes,and judgmentby style; givinga more
oftheresultofthe3rdmethod.
detailedarrangemeint
5th. Minimum dispersionof each type, concentrating
the extreme
examples.
We will nowillustratethesemethodsas appliedto usual prehistoric
objects.
in tumuliwill be invaluableforprovingtherelative
1st. Later interments
in caves and in lake depositsis equallyvaluable;
orderofage. The superposition
and thecommonconsentin thesequenceofstone,bronze,and ironmayrenderthe
depositsof those successiveages equivalentto local superposition.This evidence
whichserve to provethe orderofsequencefrom
gives a basis of broad divisions,
it forlate to early. As we shall see,it is
earlyto late,and preventourmistaking
startingfromsuchbroaddivisionsthatwe refineto lesserperiods.
2nd. A series of changesof gradualgrowthor decay in formand style
ofa singletype,wherethey are all of one localityanidunquestionable
in their
is of the higlhest
value. It enables a long period to be rangedin
connection,
approximateorder,and serves as a scale for notingthe riseor disappearance
of
othertypes. Thus contemporary
graves,whichmaynot colntainthis fluctuating
type,can be classifiedilito theseries,alndso take theirtrueplace. Whena series
of one typeis arranged,
and all the slips containingit are placedin order,then
when a freshslip is to be placedin the serieseach typeon it is lookedforin the
series,alndthe firstand last examplenoted. (This is conveniently
doneby laying
298
Remains.
PDiu. W. M. FL1NDERSPETRIE.-Sequences in Prehistoric
a pen iiib pointingforwar
d fromthefirstexample,and anotherbackwardfromthe
and endin theseries
last.) When each type on the card thus has its beginning
marked,it is easy to see that the card oughtto be placedafterall thebeginnings
anldbeforeall theendingsofthetypes. Oftenit doesnotso fall,aridwe findthat
the range of one type must be extendedat one end or otherso as to includethe
new card in the series. Thus new materialis built intoa seriesalreadymarked
out by thedevelopmenit
ofsomleone type.
3rd. A large groupof gravesmaynotcontainany alreadydatablematerial,
classes. Such in Egyptare somehundreds
but mayfallbetweentwomoredefinite
and earlierthan
of graveswhichare laterthanthecups withwhiteline decoration
jars. The cardsofthesegravesare thento be marked
the seriesofwavy-handled
withlthe proportioln
of typesof potterythattheyhave in commonwiththeclass
at eitherthe beginninig
or theend of theseries,thosewithtypesmost
best-known
like those of a terminalclass comingnaturallylnearestto that class. This
statisticalsortingby resemblanceto some definiteclass is theonlywayto break
up a large indistinctmass. Thus gravesof the earlyiron age shouldbe sorted
ofobjectsin commonwithlate bronzeage graves.
accordingto theirproportion
4th. Whena generalstatisticalsortinghas thusbrokenup a mnass
intovague
similartypesthatcome
together
stages,the next step is to refinethisby grouping
near each other,and so improvetheorderby moreindividualevidence. Thus,for
ofpotterytypesthat
instance,fibukee
mightbe roughlyclassed by theproportions
were foundwith them; but the similaritiesof formwould enable themto be
put moreexactlyinto order. Or decoratedvases could be morecloselyarranged
was vaguelysettledstatistically.
by designs,aftertheirgeneraldistribution
dispersionofeach type. It
Lastly,5th. Theremustbe soughtthe minimum
is clearthat if we had a seriesof gravesput reallyin the originalorder,any
of thatwouldbe likelyto spreadthe rangesof someof thecontents.
disturbance
Hence the orderwhichgives the shortestrangesof the typesis probablythe
truth. Of coursetherangesare not ofthesamelength. Somne
types-especially
the more simple forms-rangeover manycenturies; othertypes-especially
peculiar and complexdecorations-wereperhapsonlymnadefora fewyears,or
evenfora singlefurnaceload.
When we come to search the extremeinstances-earlyand late-of each
until a poilit
type,it is seen that theycan be shortenedup alid concentrated
comeswherethereis tensionbetweentwotypes,and thecardmustcontaineither
thefirstexampleof one typeor the latestof another. Which is to givewayis
determinedby seeingwhetherthe extensionof one type or the otherwill be
mostin accordwithsimilartypesrelatedto these.
a grave-is reduced
thecollectionof cardslips-each representing
Thus finally
to theoriginalorderofthegraves. Whenthatis done
to thenearestapproximation
thetotalslipsare dividedintoequialgroups-in the Egyptiancase 900 slipswere
dividedinto50 groupsof 18 slipseach-and the boundariesof thegroupsmaybe
so as to includethe boundaiiesof well-m-arked
typesjust withini
slightlymodified
PROF. W. M. FLINDERSPETiJE.-Sequences in PrehistoricRenatains.
299
are thle
a group. These groupsare thenito be lnuimlbered,
anid these lnuimlbers
dates of the groups. For the prehistoric
sequience,
EgyptianI have formed50
groups,and leavino29 stagesforearliergroupsthatmaybe found,and 19 stages
at theotherend forlaterconnections
the
with historictimes,I have nlumbered
groupsused from30 to 80. In thepracticalworkingthedoubtabouttheposition
of a typerarelyextendsto 10 stages,and thatonlyin case of raretypesbutlittle
caused
known; forordinary
well-known
typesa changeof 3 or 4 stagesis seldomn
by revision,
and oftena changeof a silnglestagewoulddistinctly
upsetthearrangenone too detailed. We
mentfortheworse. The scale of fifty
stagesis therefore
knownothiugyetof the yearscoveredby thesefiftystages; but lookingat the
numberof gravesin relationto thoseof thehistoricage,and thechangesof style,
we can hardlysupposeit to be less thall a thousancd
years,verypossiblydouble
that. The presumption
of slowerchangesand fewergraves inl more barbaric
timeswouldlengthenratherthanshortenthe estimate.
Then the listsof the rangeof each type can be drawnup,stating(Y
between
whatlimitsof sequencedatesit is found. Such a clivisionin stages and such a
list of rangesis usefulforworkingpurposesat earlierpartsof the proceedings,
especiallyif manyhundredsof graveshave to be dealtwith.
In datingany class of objects,such as spears,adzes,fibulke,
comlibs,
etc.,the
processis to look out theage or the rangeof age of each of the gravesin which
suchobjectsare found;such a list will ruLnsomewhatthus:-S.D. 43, 52, 47, 46,
between37 and 51, 42, between49 and 60, and so on. Here the graveswith
badlydefinedage,as 37 to 51, and 49 to 60, do lnotaffectthe result,as theother
examplesall fall withinthoselimits,and we calndate the object as varyingfrom
42 to 52 in sequence date. Somletilmes
we only have badly definedgraves as
evideuce,and findsuchrangesas 26 to 49, 33 to 70, 42 to 60; here all we can1
say is thatit mustbe from42 to 49, and mayextendfarther.
Onithusworking
out the sequencedates of the prehistoric
Egyptianwe call
tracethecourseof that barbariccivilisation. Rememberilng
that 30 to 80 is the
ran-gethatwe are dealingwith,we can say that the finestserrationof straight
flintknives,and lances is at 32 anldextendsdownto 43 (see Fig. 5) in comm-ion
use,and was keptup as granldspecimiienis
to 65. The forkedlalnceswith a wide
fork(32 to 43) precedethosewithnarrowcleftfork(38 to 61), and thosewith a
definite
tanigforhaftilng
go as late as 70. The cuirvedkniveswithroundedbutt
are the earliest,beginningabout 39 ; they are followedby the sickle-shaped
knivesat 45 to 65; and theveryregularsurfaceflakinig
olnwideflatknivesdoes
notcoiliein before57,anldbecomescoarseby 65, continuing
downito 78, anldthus
oln into the earlyhistoricflaking. The large trialigular
flakeswitlhpartlyworked
edgeswere notveryearly,beginlingaboout41, alndlargeones elndin(g
at 61, while
flakekniiveslast olnto tlleend. The square-elnded
smlialler
flakebeg,inis
at 63, anid
lasts olntill it is the miaintypein tlheearlyhiistoric
times.
Of theslate palettes(see Fig. 2) the rlhombs
animiials
andIwell-formed
are tlle
31 to 40 or so. The fishand tulrtle
eirliest,fromii
formiis
becinat 36 and become.
300
in Prehistor-ic
PROF.W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE.-Seqtences
Remitains.
(deg,raded
by 50, lastinig
on in veryrudeshapesto theend. The bird slates begin
lmlailily
at 44, anld becomedegradedat 60, whilethe plain squaresruinfrom37 to
70, whentheywereornamented
wvitlh
borderlineson to 80.
In theuse ofmetals,gold and silverare commonestabout 42 to 46, whichl
is,
whenthedecorated
perhaps,theage ofiliostprosperity
and foreign
and
connections,
laterstylesofpotterywere cominginto use. Copperwas used fromtheearliest
age,30, whenonlya fewsimpletypesof pupsin one kind of potteryweremade
(see Fig. 6). Harpoonisand small chisels came in abotit34, needlesabout 48,
adzes forwood-workabout 52, whilea large square chisel and plain square axe
blade only appearat 78. Foil and banldsseem to have been made beforewire
out. In weaponisthe disc-shapedmace head is theear-lier
was lhammered
(Fig. 5)
macecameiil,whichlastedillto earlyhistory.
and disappearswhenthepear-shaped
hundredsof stone
Thus this chaos of over ininehundredtypes of pottery,
vases,weaponsand toolsof flintand of copper,ivorywork,and beads,extending
beenreducedby
overmanycenturies,
perhapsoneor twothousandyears,has n1ow
thissystemto an orderlyseries,in whichwe can notonlystateexactlytherelative
and theextenitof raiige
orderof the objects,but also the degreeof uncertainty
whichbelongsto each object. We have herea new and exactmethodfordealing
withall thosevag,ueages as yetunfathomed,
and forextracting,,
all thatis possible
abLouttheirhistory. Prehistoricarcheologyhas made anotherstep towardbeof those who excavateis
cominganl exact science. And niowthe respoinsibility
tenifold
as the extenit
of theircare and exactitudewill mliore
inicreased,
thanever
restoreor ruinthehistoryofthepast.
Illustrations
ofSequcguce
Datesin Prehistoric
Egypt.
Fig. 1. Types of potteryof seven successive stages, the sequence dates of each beilngat the
rioht. In each stage are shown forms whiclhare peculiar to that sta(ge,together
with two formiis
whicli pass throulghinto ail adjacenit stage. Tllus tlhe pottery of
eaclhstage may be regarded as what wouildbe most typical and imp)ortantin a tomnb
of that period. It will be readily seeni how imiipossible
it would be to ilivertthe
order of ally of these stages Nwithoutbireakingup the links betweelntheem. Tlhusif
there be sufficientvariety of potteryin any tolmib
its true positioniin sequenieewitlh
others is exactly fixed,and it canniiotbe displaced without stretchilngthe ralngeof
some of the types of pottery. At the left elndsof the fiVe lower rows is the wavyhandled type, ill its various stages; the degradatioluof this type was the best clue
to the order of the wlholeperiod.
Fig. 2. Htaving dated all the potterytypes, it is possible to date all other objects by tlieir
aissociationi
with pottery. Thus it is possible to trace the hiistoryof the slate palettes.
The formsof these slate palettes, uisedfor grinidilng
face paint, are very varied. Tlle
rlhombis the ealrliesttype, but died out by 37, except in rude folms, whlichllasted
till 47. Quadiupeds are well wolrkedat first,but becomi r-oughby 40, alnd rarely
recognisablelater oln. FishIesanid turtles begin at 36, becoimie
rude by about b0, aild
wele ovals and discs by 70.
Birds only begin at 46, anld double birds at 38; they
also becoine very rude before the end of the period. The squares begvini
at 37; but
at 67 notclhedbordels appear, alndfrom70 to 80 line borders.
Figs. 3, 4. The genealogies of some formiisof pottery fiolmibegriiillinng
to elid of the whlole
30~~~~~~~~~~~
ji.
.7.;
.S~~~~~
IG
FIG. L.-Types
of pottery of seven suceessive stages, tlle sequence dates of eacli being at the right.
In eacli ktag,e arse showiil forliis wliich aile peculiar to that stage. together witli two folmils
it
whiell pass throu.gh iiitO an adjaceiit
It +i0ll b)e readily seen howr impossible
stage.
wvould be to inv ert the oicder of a.ny of these stages w ithout breaksing up the linlks, betwveen
various
in
its
A^t the left ends of t.he fivre IoNNer roxses is, the wvay-handlet'
theiii.
type,
stalges; the dlegi-adation of this type was the best clue to the oilder of the wvhole period.
30Tefrso
-00~
NO
~h ]t~ ~aets.uelflgiligfc
~~~~~~~
;80~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
is the earliest type, but died out by
Quidilupeds siase svl oilcie at hii tX b
latci on. Fislies andi mtur.sbegim at
discsby70. Birdsonlyb)egin at 40, an
The squa
before tlheend of the perio.
and fiom 70 to 80 linleboiders.
,.+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ ~ ~~~~~~~~ ...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'.
.....
~
~
~
~~~~~~~
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ ~~~~
.
.
....
... ........
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
M~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
M~~~~
~
........
.~
.....
hG.
~
pteyfom.gn.g
hewoe...d.hs
ifeetfbis.hwn.ha
FIGS...4.Tegnalge.fsoefrso
5~~~~~~1
ONO
important.than.material
~
~ ~
~
~
3.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIG
~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~
mr
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ oedo
~
~
~
~ ~ ~ ~
fispe
hrnhtoorte
....
....
;i~~~~Mi
:~~~~~~
5.-Ifn the earliest gravresthe notchiingof thc sawvedge is delicate and rel(rular,bJutthle sttrface
flaking is not in ally pattern. The fiileripple flaking withiregmlar i-idges, on tho face,
belongs to the middle period of 57 to 66. The knives bcegin curved witli round.'d biittd,
'-;becomle
long alnd sickle-shaped, then wvideand flat witli straighltedges, anid lastly rough
and thicl;. The forkedlances are wvideand flat-endedat fli-st,then deepen to a V groove,
and lastly hlave tangs.
FIG.
Fc-l G.
.--The copperXtools I.e-in wvithslna.11pinast
on the forms carved in1bone. Smaltllc
52, roun(led at tlle top in 78* aiid a dee
is found inlthe oldest graves know^n; it
inpioved at twe end of the period.
PROF. W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE.-SeqUences
in PrehistoricRemtains.
301
period. These forms pass through two or three differentfabrics, showing that
formis more importantthan material.
can be traced in the same way as that of the slates. In the
Fig. 5. The historyof flint-working
earliest graves the notchinigofthe saw edge is delicate and regular, but the surface
flakinigis not in aiiy pattern. The fine ripple flaking with regtularridges, on the
face, belongs to the middle period of 57 to 66. The knives begin curved with
rounded butt, become long and sickle-shaped,then wide andlflat with straightedges,
and lastly rough and thick. The forked lances are wide aiid flat-endedat first,then
deepenito a V groove,and lastly have tangs.
Fig. 6. The copper tools begin with small piins to fasten the skin cloaks. Then harpoons
modelled on the forms carved in bone. Small chisels appear at 38; wide adzes for
wood-workat 52, rounded at the top in 78; and a deep, stout chisel and simple axe
at 78. Thus metal is found in the oldest graves known; it becomes varied in use by
about 50, and furtherimprovedat the end of the period.
In all of theseseries of changesin slates ancdtools we see a regularprogression,yet this datingresultssolely fromi
the potterywith whichtheywere
found;and thuisthis regularity
of resultsis the strongestproofofthetrueand
soli(dbasis oftheclassingby sequencedates