SECRETARY'S REPORT 19 



fields of evolutionary philosophy who conducted and participated 

 in panel meetings. The published results are sure to be of interest 

 to all biologists and other scientists concerned in any way with 

 evolution and its background. Subsequently, Dr. Wedel attended 

 the 17th Plains Archeological Conference, in Lincoln, Nebr., where 

 he reestablished contacts with many of the workers in the area of 

 his principal interest, conferred with various archeologists of the 

 River Basin Surveys, and examined recent archeological collections. 

 Early in May Dr. Wedel attended the 25th annual meeting of the 

 Society for American Archeology, at New Haven, Comi., presenting 

 a paper on the progress of research in Great Plains prehistory. He 

 also studied various important manuscripts in the Western Ameri- 

 cana collections of the Yale University Library particularly re- 

 lating to the Missouri River region and the Black Hills. 



Dr. Clifford Evans, associate curator of archeology, and Dr. Betty 

 J. Meggers, research associate, late in December attended the 58th 

 annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in 

 Mexico City, where they delivered a paper on "Archeological Evalua- 

 tion of Obsidian Dating." The gathering in Mexico City, they report, 

 had the flavor of an international meeting, which left a favorable 

 impression on delegates who seldom attend anthropological meet- 

 ings outside the limits of the United States. The Mexicans were 

 considerate hosts, and all visitors were highly impressed with the 

 Institute of Anthropology and History and the various museums 

 and exhibits in the Mexico City area. Following the meeting, Drs. 

 Evans and Meggers spent several weeks in Mexico, examining arche- 

 ological collections and sites in Tabasco, Chiapas, and Oaxaca, as 

 well as the environs of Mexico City. Dr. Evans arranged to have 

 certain important type collections sent to the Smithsonian, saw some 

 archeological sites of major importance in Mesoamerica, familiar- 

 ized himself with study and exhibit collections in several regional 

 museums, and made contact with many colleagues. 



Dr. Evans attended the 25th annual meeting of the Society for 

 American Archeology at New Haven, Conn., May 4-7, and consulted 

 with various archeologists involved in the Institute of Andean Re- 

 search program seeking archeological connections between North and 

 South America and Middle America. This group, including Drs. 

 Evans and Meggei-s, will undertake an elaborate research program in 

 the region during the next few years. 



Dr. Evans and Dr. Meggers left on June 25 for extended study 

 in various European museums, where they propose to do research on 

 comparative archeological collections from North and South America. 

 Tliis work is undertaken in connection with their long-term program 

 of archeological survey and excavation in the tropical forest region 



