Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1901 — Oldest Brick In Existence. [ARTICLE]

Oldest Brick In Existence.

At one of the meetings of the Academic des Inscriptions Ft Belles Lettree, in Paris, the keeper of the Louvre, 11 Henzey, showed a b&ck which is undoubtedly the oldest In existence, dating. it is estimated, from the fortieth century B. C. The brick in question was discovered by the French savant and antiquary De Sarzee during excavations at Tello, the ancient Sirpuio in Chaldea. The brick was somewhat curved and had been, baked, but was of such crude form that it evidently had neither been put la a press nor moiijfftf The mark of the maker was simply the Imprint of the thumb. It was clearly made very soon after the discovery of the are of brickmaking, which art, as Is universally admitted, marks the dawn of civilization. Other bricks of a much more recent date were shown. Some of them bore the mark of the coat of arms of Sirpuio, an eagle with the head of a lion. Others again were Inscfjbed with the name of the reigning monarch.—Stone.