Mr. Campbell Thompson tells us, in the Ill. London News of June 27th, 1931, that in excavating at Niniveh he discovered a Parthian settlement on the foundations of the destroyed temple of Ishtar. In some of the houses belonging to this settlement were found great quantities of ‘the blackpainted ware, the like of which is found in South Mesopotamia and Persia.’ As this kind of pottery, decorated with geometric ornaments and animals, in all the places where it has hitherto come to light, must be dated about 3000 B.C., he is much surprised by his find, and the only explanation he suggests is that there must have been some Parthian virtuoso who collected antiquities. Now this seems most improbable, for who would at that time care for ancient pottery of no great beauty or attractive appearance, supposing even that after so many centuries unbroken vases were still found in sufficient quantities to encourage collectors?