38 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



in length, 4 feet 9 inches in depth, and, being double throughout, its 

 entire length is virtually 520 feet. Double the space now allotted this 

 department is necessary for its proper display, and the value of the 

 material here concentrated is practically inestimable, since even tlie 

 modern tribes, who are still making pottery similar in its general char- 

 acter to that which is here preserved, have deteriorated to such a 

 degree in their artistic capacity or skill, that their products are not 

 therefore an exponent of their original artistic cax)abilities. So ex- 

 haustive and monographic is this collection that it is impossible that 

 any thorough work can be done upon the American aboriginal pottery 

 which shall not in great part be based upon this collection. 



The detail from the Bureau of Ethnology of Mr. William H. Holmes 

 as honorary curator of this department has been continued. 



In addition to his administrative work, ho has been engaged in the 

 preparation of a monograph of a number of collections from the prov- 

 ince of Chiriqni in Colombia. 



The collections made under the direction of the Bureau of Ethnology 

 in the Mississippi Valley by Dr. Cyrus Thomas, are deserving of special 

 mention, as well as those of Col. J^mes Stevenson and Mr. E. W. Nelson 

 in the Pueblo country of the Southwest. 



III. De])artmcnt of Antiquities. — The report of the curator, Dr. Eau, 

 for the current year, is an exhaustive geographical review of the acces- 

 sions, some of the most important of which are illustrated by draw- 

 ings. The total number of accessions has been 2,751; all excepting 84 

 were of sufficient importance to be added to the exhibition and study 

 series, which now include over 40,000 specimens. In the arrangement of 

 the archseological collections. Dr. Eau is taking advantage of the addi- 

 tional space placed at his command by the removal of the ethnological 

 collections to the new building, to display his material in a manner more 

 instructive to the public and more useful to the -special investigator. 



The general collection is now, and was in the past, arranged primarily 

 by material; all objects of stone are together, as are also those of cop- 

 per, bone, horn, shell, clay, and wood; secondarily by form and func- 

 tion, stone pestles, arrow-heads, or knives are placed together, the 

 rudest and most primitive beginning the series, the most perfect at its 

 close, the locality of each specimen being clearly indicated upon its 

 label. Stone celts are arranged, and similar groups are made of ham- 

 mered knives, &c.; thirdly, a progressive arrangement is adopted, the 

 rudest and most primitive of the celts, for instance, being at the be- 

 ginning of the series, and the most perfect and elaborate at the end. 



Daring the year one hundred and nineteen of these special collec- 

 tions have been^ placed on exhibition. This form of special collection 

 is becoming of great importance in this department as well as in the 

 department of ethnology which has already been referred to. The rapid 

 increase at the present time in the department of archaeology is due to 



