国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

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well with the approximate date which was reached through Si-hia writing, since the same human form is fairly frequent in the rock-drawings of the Jenissei (42), which nevertheless are earlier than our group by several centuries (VII-VIII century).

We find Si-hia inscriptions once again on the two examples of " bell-shaped cash " (one represented Plate XLI. no. 8) nearly entirely lacking in patina. This money was used in the T'ang period (43). It has been altered into a flattened pendant with a square handle, and remains fairly thick. Only an inscription decorates the surface.

The bases by which objects with Si-hia inscriptions may be dated have been given by W. Baruch in Chapter V. This date has been confirmed by the ornaments themselves, and to a certain extent, by the condition of their surfaces. The relative certainty with which we may place this group of objects in the beginning of the II millennium considerably supports the hypothetical structure of dates which we are using in our study.

d) Sickles.

The sickle is of frequent use all over the circle of the Steppes. We have a detailed monograph on this object by Tallgren (44) who points out that the chief Siberian characteristic is formed by the handle which follows uninterruptedly the curve of this implement (45). The well known publications on Minussinsk give some idea of the frequent appearence of this object there (46).

At the northern Chinese frontier the decoration is found on only one side of the sickle (Plate XLII no. 1). It is composed of a thin band of oblique ridges which follow the line of the framed back, and of oblique ridges which move in the opposite direction on the blade. A narrow section remains plain and serves as handle. Tallgren has found in different regions of the Steppes, sickles that are ridged, but only in the direction of the blade (47). Our example is probably not for use, but is a symbolic object. Referring once more to the opinion of Tallgren, he considers that sickles from the Ukraine had a monetary or weight value (48). Comparitively, we lack guiding-marks for the date. It should be looked for in about the middle of the I millennium.

NOTES OF CHAPTER IX

(I) D'Ardenne de Tizac, pl. 56a.

2. Martin, pl. 29, 5-6.

3. Martin, pl. 33, I.

4. Fujita, Umehara, Koizumi, pl. XII, 3.

5. Sekino, Yatsui, Kuriyama, Oba, Ogawa, Nomori, texte n° 27i-72 ; Fujita, Umehara, Koizumi, pl. XXXV, 3.