18 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1947 



f erences in material culture, nevertheless belong to the same linguistic 

 stock. This linguistic stock, moreover, is remarkably homogeneous. 

 Since language is fairly resistant to change (more so than material 

 culture), considerable interest attaches to the question whether this 

 linguistic homogeneity reflects a similar status in physical type. 



Dr. Stewart undertook the collection of data that would supplement 

 those already available and at the same time allow their fuller inter- 

 pretation. Since in Guatemala the municipio, being endogamous, is 

 the basic unit for ethnic study, he restricted his study to two municipios 

 within the Cakchiquel linguistic subgroup. First at Solola in the De- 

 partment of Solola, then later at Patzun in the Department of Chimal- 

 tenango, he secured comparable series of males — 82 to 72, respec- 

 tively — and at Patzun, a series of 35 females. Altogether this is the 

 largest series from one highland linguistic group thus far studied. 

 In addition to the routine anthropometric measurements, observa- 

 tions, and photographs, the records obtained this season include blood 

 group (A, B; M, N), taste sensitivity to phenyl thiocarbamide, palm 

 and finger prints, and hair samples. In view of the success of this 

 first season, it is hoped that the experience thus gained can be utilized 

 for the extension of these observations elsewhere. It is important, for 

 example, to learn also to what extent in the highlands the barrier of 

 language is an aid in the formation of physical types. Furthermore, 

 if the records are made by one observer, they will be more uniform and 

 less subject to multiple personal biases. 



Upon his return from Guatemala Dr. Stewart was detailed to stop 

 over in Mexico City in order to examine the recently recovered skeleton 

 of Tepexpan man. This important skeleton, found in what is consid- 

 ered by paleontologists as a Pleistocene stratum, may represent one of 

 the most complete skeletons dating from this early period in North 

 America. Subsequent to his visit the entire skeleton has been brought 

 to the United States National Museum by Senor Javier Romero, who 

 is to work with Dr. Stewart in the restoration and reconstruction of the 

 skeletal parts. At the close of the fiscal year some progress has been 

 made in the restoration of the facial bones. 



Dr. Waldo R. Wedel, associate curator of archeology, was on detail 

 to the River Basin Surveys and in charge of the Missouri River Basin 

 Survey from July 8 to October 18, 1946. He left Washington May 20, 

 1947, to resume this work. Joseph R. Caldwell, scientific aid, like- 

 wise was detailed to the River Basin Surveys from November 12, 1946, 

 to April 1, 1947. (See appendix 5 for details.) 



Members of the staff of the department of biology participated in 

 several important expeditions and a number of smaller field trips, all 

 of which returned valuable material to the collections. From other 

 expeditions in which the Museum personnel did not take part but 

 which were financed by the Smithsonian Institution or private con- 



