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

Pl. 7: 1—7 depict some curious objects the meaning or function of which is obs-
cure. The simplest form is seen in Pl. 7: 1, there being two similar specimens. It is
a wooden peg, flattened, and tapering towards one end. On one of them there is a
small oval hole with burnt edges, and on the other a charred hollow near the
middle.

Pl. 7: 6 is a more elaborate specimen. At the broader end one side is flattened
and provided with two parallel grooves, and behind these a rectangular depression.
A big bunch of horse hair is tied with brown woollen strings round the middle part
of the handle. The pointed end has a small step or ledge. The curved shape may be
accidental.

Pl. 7: 4 is carved according to the same pattern, but on Pl. 7: 3 the two grooves
do not reach the end of the peg. This is also the case with Pl. 7: 2, and there the
depression is surrounded by small drilled holes; near the pointed end there is a
lashing of brown wool. The fragmentary specimen Pl. 7: 5 has no sunken part but
eight transverse incisions instead. When the other fragmentary specimen, Pl. 7: 7,
was found, a layer of feathers were attached with red wool to its back. The com-
plete ones are from 53 to 63.5 cm. long.

In coffin 5, C a fragmentary specimen of this kind of object was found which
would seem to indicate that they used to be buried with the dead.

The only objects of a shape somewhat similar to the more elaborate specimens
are some Siberian Shaman drumsticks; but our specimens are rather long, and
there seem to be too many of them. It is, however, more than likely that they had a
function in some cult performance.

Another type of object is unknown in existing collections. Some specimens have
already been mentioned above. It is made of wood in two similar halves, the flat
surfaces laid towards each other, and the members joined with two string lashings.
The upper part is more or less spool-shaped, whereas the lower end terminates in
a carving representing a horse's hoof or a cow's foot, Pl. 8: 3—5, 7—8. Some of
them have a notch at the "front" edge and, as a rule, there is as group of slightly
incised transverse lines on the flat sides, clearly visible in Pl. 8: 8. On the specimens
Pl. 8: 7—8 the flat sides are charred in on place near the upper end as if the objects
had been used to catch some red-hot metal. The length varies between 21.5 and 28.2
cm. Three pairs, Pl. 8: 3—5, were found in coffins; in all five complete and one half
set were found. I can see no practical use for these "leg" representations.

Pl. 8: 1, 2, 6 and 9 represent another kind of compound articles consisting of two
similar halves which have been tied together with a woollen cord wound round the
sunken middle part. The insides of the halves are hollowed out. On Pl. 8: 6 is

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