ABSTRACTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN CORRESPONDENCE RELA- 

 TIVE TO ABORIGINAL REMAINS IN THE UNITED STATES. 



By Otis T. Mason. 



Very important information relative to the antiquities of our coun- 

 try continues to appear in the correspondence of tlie Smithsonian In- 

 stitution in response to Circular No. 31G. Tluit which relates to relics 

 is preserved by Professor Charles Ran. It only remains, therefore, here 

 to collect and publish that which refers to the permanent remains of 

 the country, such as shell-heaps, mounds, circumvallations, pueblos, 

 &c. The diligence and care with which the locations and characteris- 

 tics of such structures are marked and preserved by the intelligent na- 

 tions of the Old Woild should be an example to us with reference to 

 oui' own country. Very few persons realize the preciousness of such a 

 statement as "There are no ancient remains whatever in my county,' 

 or "There are shell-heaps, mounds, or ancient earth-walls in such a 

 place." It is designed by the Institution, when the permanent work on 

 archaeology is published, to have no blank spaces whatever; but to be 

 able to give an intelligent account of every county and even every town- 

 ship in the United States. 



Barnard, D. Mentions an old graveyard near San Buenaventura, Cal., 

 where, under large flat bowlders, lay skeletons with chipped imple- 

 ments, beads, mica crucibles, red paint, mortars and pestles, and vases 

 or urns. 



Billings, Melvin. Sends to the institution specimens from mounds 

 and graves near Marion Centre, Kans. Among them was a tablet 

 found 8 feet below the surface, on the second bottom, beneath a de- 

 posit of clay, surrounded by about a bushel of ashes, shells, and broken 

 pottery. 



Brace, A. L. Has forwarded description and drawing of a flint flake 

 found in an excavation 3 feet under the surface in a yellow bed of 

 clay, at Amazonia, Andrew County, Missouri. The implement is 14^ 

 inches long, 5J inches wide, and 1 inch thick in the widest part. Mr. 

 Brace also describes other implements in his possession. 



Bush, Miss Jennie E. Gives notice of the destruction of the museum 

 of the California State normal school, February 10, 1880 ; also an ac- 



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