54 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Much of lii.s time, during the year was einph)yeil iu writiug the flual pages of the 

 report on the field work and explorations which for several years had heen in his 

 chai'ge, and in adapting it to a change in the form and manner of its ]>ul>licati(m 

 which had heen made necessary. This involved the re-writing of many pages and 

 a material condensation of the introductory portion relating to the distributit)u of 

 types of mounds. It was completed by the close of the fiscal year and filed for ])m1)- 

 lication, nearly all the illustrations having been drawn and ])repared for engva\ - 

 ing. 



He devoted all his spare time to the study of the Maya Codices and iu the prepa- 

 ration of a report of the discoveries he made therein. One of these, which is deemed 

 of much interest and importance, is that, when the Dresden Codex, which is consid- 

 ered the most ancient of those known, was written, the year consisted of 365 days, 

 and that the calendar was arranged precisely as it was foixnd to be by the Spanish 

 con([uerors. But his most important discovery was made during the closing days 

 of the year. This consisted in what may be termed the discovery of the key to the 

 signification of the hieroglyphic characters of the Codices by which it is probable 

 that the inscriptions may ultimately be read. This discovery, which the tests so 

 far applied appear to confirm, consists, first, in the evidence that the characters as a 

 rule are phonetic and, second, in ascertaining the signification of a sufficient number 

 to form a basis for the interpretation of the rest. If this discovery proves to be 

 what, from the evidence presented, it appears to be, it Avill be of incalculable im- 

 portance to American archaeology. 



Early in the year the Avork of Mr. Cosmos Miudeleff commenced in repairing and 

 securing the preservation of the Casa Grande ruin. This work was ordered by act 

 of Congress and plans had been prepared by Mr. Mindeleft" while in Arizona during 

 the previous year. These plans provided for the excaA'^atiou of the interior of the ruin, 

 the underpinning of the walls w^ith brick and cement, the use of tie-beams to hold 

 the walls in place and render them more solid, the restoration of the lintels over door 

 and window openings, and the filling of the cavities above the lintels with brick 

 and cement. The work was completed in November and was inspected and ac- 

 cepted. Although all that was deemed necessary to preserve the riiin could not lie 

 done with the appropriation provided, still it is believed that enough was done to 

 preserve it in its present condition for many years. All the work done was directed 

 to the preservation of the ruin, no attempt at restoration being made. In .tune, 

 1892, the President, in accordance wdth the authority vested in him by Congress, 

 reserved from settlement twelve quarter sections about the ruin, comprising an area 

 of about 480 acres. A number of specimens obtained duriug the excavation were 

 sliipped to Washington and deposited iu the National Mnseiim. 



Duriug a part of the year Mr. Mindeleft' was engaged iu the prej)aration of a 

 report upon his field work of the previous year. This report, entitled ''Aboriginal 

 Remains in the Valley of the Rio Verde, Arizona," was completed and will appear iu 

 the Twelfth Annual Report of the Bureau. Aside irom a comprehensive treatment of 

 the ruins in the valley of the Verde the report will contain the first illustrations 

 ]iublished of ancient irrigating ditches, and the first comjirehensive data, including 

 illustrations of cavate lodges. It is fully illustrated from photographs, plans, and 

 surveys made by the author. .Subsequently lie rommenced a scientifii^ report on 

 the Casa Grande ruin of Arizona. 



No new work was undertaken in the modelling room during the year, as the entire 

 force was occupied upon the preparation of duplicates of models jireviously made, 

 for use at the World's Columbian Exposition and elsewhere. Six models, in addi- 

 tion to other material, were sent to Spain, to be exhiliited at the historical exposi- 

 tion at Madrid. The series comprised models of the Puelilo of Znili, New Mexico, 

 the Pueblo of Walpi, Arizona, Mummy Cave clilf rniu. Arizona, all of large size, and 

 three smaller models of ruins. 



