58 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



bones of ancient mammals were obtained near Kimmswick, Missouri, 

 by Mr. Gerard Fowke. and extensive collections were made in ancient 

 flint quarries and worksliops in Carter County, Kentucky, and in Har- 

 rison County, Indiana, illustrating all the phases of flint working. 



Mr. Holmes, aided by Mr. Fowke, made investigations in a hematite 

 mine at Leslie, Missouri, obtaining the collections referred to on a 

 preceding page. 



Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, of the Bureau of Ethnology, concluded 

 important explorations in the islands of Santo Domingo and Porto 

 Rico. It has long been known that the latter island was in some way 

 a sacred retreat of the ancient inhalntants of the Antilles. Many 

 years ago a large collection of objects of stone was presented to the 

 Museum by George Latimer, and Doctor Fewkes was successful in 

 supplementing this with valuable material, adding many new forms. 

 In addition to his archeological explorations. Doctor Fewkes made 

 careful studies of the natives, including the whites, blacks, and rem- 

 nants of ancient aborigines. 



Dr. W. L. Abbott, of Philadelphia, has continued his explorations 

 in the northern portion of the island of Sumatra and the small islands 

 adjoining, and the mainland in the Straits Settlements, contributing 

 the valuable collections already described. 



RESEARCHES. 



One of the chief aims of the Department of Anthropology has always 

 been to favor and encourage research, not only on the part of members 

 of the staff but of investigators elsewhere. Much attention has been 

 paid during the year to correspondence on every topic connected with 

 anthropology, and to obtain, if possible, for the friends of the Institu- 

 tion information that is not within their reach. Literature published 

 by the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum on anthropo- 

 logical subjects has been freely distributed. This remark applies 

 equally to the ethnology of America, the Philippine Islands, and inci- 

 dentally to other parts of the world. The curators have been almost 

 daily importuned for information concerning the nature and use of 

 archeological relics. 



A collection of Indian shields was sent to Mr. James Mooney, Mount 

 Scott, Oklahoma, for study in the held. 



In the Division of History questions arise constantly as to the mean- 

 ing of inscriptions and the readings on coins and medals. Already, in 

 the new Division of Ph^^sical Anthropology a beginning has been 

 made in supplying special instructions to observers and students. In 

 the Division of Ceramics errors with reference to the age and sources 

 of pottery are corrected. With the public, great interest is mani- 

 fested in the "Synoptic Series" of the Museum, and teachers are con- 

 stantly receiving instructions with reference to the development of 



