THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



discovery. The material of the bed in which the objects were 

 found is loess. The question of the Lansing skull and its rela- 

 tions was discussed in papers by Professors T. C. Chamberlin, 

 W. H. Holmes and S. W. Williston and Drs. George A. Dorsey 

 and Ales Hrdlicka. In type and measurements the skull has 

 proved to be scarcely different from the average of those of the 

 present American Indian. The locality where the find was made 

 has been studied by several geologists, and Professor T. C. Cham- 

 berlin states that in his opinion at least 8000 years must have 

 elapsed since the deposition of the beds in which the skull was 

 foimd. In reference to the similarity between the Lansing skull 

 and the skulls of the present Indians, Professor Putnam remarked 

 that it only served as a further argument for the high antiquity 

 of the Indian race in America. Prof. Franz Boas has arrived at 

 similar conclusions regarding the long human occupation of this 

 continent on account of the great complexity of the American 

 people in reference to their languages and characteristics. 



Professor Boas detailed to the members of the Congress the 

 results which have been obtained for the Museum through the 

 labors of the men engaged on the Jesup North Pacific expedition, 

 information regarding which has been given at length in previous 

 numbers of the Journal. 



Several of the important papers submitted to the Congress 

 pertained to the archaeology of Mexico. Among these may be 

 mentioned particularly those of Alfredo Chavero, Leopoldo 

 Batres, Nicolas Leon, M. H. Saville, Edward H. Thompson and 

 Mrs. Zeha Nuttall. 



M. H. Saville read a paper upon the new discoveries near 

 Mitla, which he made in the course of investigations provided 

 for through the liberality of the Duke of Loubat. Among other 

 things Mr. Saville made clear that the temples at Mitla, like all 

 other sacred buildings of ancient Mexico, have been erected upon 

 terrace-like substructures which, however, here have been de- 

 stroyed to a great extent by the action of wind and weather. He 

 also made mention of a new cruciform stibterranean chamber 

 which lie discovered imder one of the largest tem]^lcs in Mitla in 



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