ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ANTHROPOLOGY 1 77 



Society of Washington and the American Ethnological Society of 

 New York are doing excellent service, both local and general, in 

 various branches of anthropology. 



The greater part of research, with the exception of that of the 

 Bureau of American Ethnology, that of the voluntary societies, 

 and that of the universities, is characterized by its immediate rela- 

 tion to the material culture of the aboriginal tribes, and very little 

 investigation is being carried on by these institutions that can not be 

 illustrated by museum specimens. For this reason the anthropo- 

 logical work done in America is somewhat one sided, the physical 

 branch especially remaining undeveloped. 



It may be appropriately noted in this connection that the concen- 

 tration of American anthropology upon the peoples of our continent 

 has the effect that the general comparative points of view are in 

 danger of being obscured by the excessive weight given to local 

 phenomena. It is one of the greatest desiderata for the training 

 of the young ethnologists that they should be given opportunity to 

 become acquainted with the culture of Africa, Asia, and of the 

 islands of the Pacific ocean. 



The following suggestions are made with the view of strengthen- 

 ing what seem to be the weaker lines in American anthropology, 

 thereby rounding out and perfecting the science as pursued in this 

 country. 



IV. Suggestions as to Researches in Anthropology by the 



Carnegie Institution. 



(i) Researches i7i Physical Anthropology. — A most important field 

 of research comprises the problems of physical anthropology. Facil- 

 ities furnished by present institutions are entirely inadequate, and 

 the investigation has at no point been systematically pursued. These 

 vastly important problems can be successfully solved only in a well- 

 equipped laboratory, the permanence of which for a considerable 

 time is assured. One of the most important problems to be treated 

 is the development of types of mankind from childhood to the adult 

 stage as determined by heredity and environment. Up to this time 

 it has never been possible to cultivate, systematically, this important 

 field of investigation, for lack of means and men. It is therefore 

 suggested to establish a central anthropometric and psychometric 

 laboratory, which shall collect and discuss data on the development 

 of physical types. 



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