68 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



Mr. Noriis was engaged during the latter part of the winter and most 

 of the spring in Arkansas, then returned to Kanawha Valley, West 

 Virginia, where he was occupied in exploring the extensive group of 

 works in the vicinity of Charleston until December, when he was com- 

 pelled by the cold weather and sickness to desist. To the great regret 

 of all his associates in the work, his sickness terminated in death a few 

 days after the close of the year. By his death the division has lost a 

 faithful and enthusiastic worker. 



His explorations in Kanawha Valley brought to light the fact that 

 here is one of the most extensive and interesting groups of works in 

 the United States. Although the exploration of this group is not yet 

 complete, it is sufficient to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that 

 the people who constructed the works of this locality built the Grave 

 Creek mound, or were intimately related to the authors of that noted 

 tumulus. There are also found some strong indications that they were 

 related to the authors of the ancient works of the Scioto Valley^. 



Mr. Middleton continued operations in Arkansas until the approach 

 of summer, assisted for some of the time by Mr. L, H. Thing. During 

 the remainder of the summer, the fall months, and until the approach 

 of extreme cold weather, he was engaged in exploring the works of 

 Knox County, Ohio. Since that time his field of operations has been 

 Arkansas. 



Dr. Palmer was engaged, dnring the six months of the year he 

 remained with the division, chiefly in Alabama, and in Early County, 

 Georgia. 



Previous to his appointment as permanent assistant Mr. Rogan was 

 employed in Northern Georgia, principally in exi)loring the celebrated 

 Etowah group in Bartow County. This examination brought to light 

 some of the most remarkable mound relics so far discovered in the 

 United States. These consist of very thin, evenly, wrought sheets of 

 copper, on which are impressed, as regularly as though done with me- 

 tallic dies or by means of machinery, figures bearing strong resem- 

 blance to the Mexican and Central American designs. The conditions 

 under which these were found leave no doubt that they were placed in 

 the mounds when they were built, and not subsequently. Here also 

 was found part of a stone bust of nearly life size, and the broken arm of 

 another stone image, also but little less than life size. 



During the latter i)art of the summer and until the beginning of win- 

 ter, Mr. Rogan was engaged, in connectipn with the Rev. J. P. Mac- 

 Lean, in examining and exploring the ancient monuments of Butler 

 Count3^ and adjacent regions of Southern Ohio. 



Mr. Charles Smith was employed during the month of November in 

 examining the ancient quarries of" Flint Ridge," Ohio, and making col- 

 lections to illustrate the various stages in the aboriginal manufacture 

 of flint implements. The collection made is, perhaps, the most com- 



