﻿NO. 5 SMITIISOXIAX KXPr,ORATIONS, 1922 89 



fruitful results. The sealing of these caves has heen a fortunate 

 accident of nature, since the contents are by this means preserved 

 intact. 



Of the regions visited, that in the neighborhood of Altamira, in 

 Spain, and Ussat, in France, give most promise of rich returns to 

 the archeologist. 



A few days were .spent in the republic of Andorre. This little 

 semi-independent state contains much of interest to the ethnologist. 

 Here one finds medieval customs and usages still functioning in the 

 same manner that they did in the middle ages. 



Located in the rugged mountains l)etween the Spanish province of 

 Lerida and the French department of Ariege, it is very difficult of 

 access. Preserved from innovations by rival jealous potentates as 

 well as by the conservative temper of its inhabitants, it has kept its 

 medieval institutions almost intact. The administration of minor 

 matters of justice and legislation is in the hands of local councils 

 chosen from the heads of families in each of the six parishes into 

 which the state is divided. The central government is vested in two 

 z'iguicrs, one nominated by France and the other by the Bishop of 

 Urgel in Spain. Serious crimes and important cases in dispute are 

 brought before them for judgment. There being no written laws, 

 their decisions are given according to their consciences, and are final. 



The population is entirely self-sufficient, and each family is an 

 independent unit, raising their own produce, grinding their own meal, 

 and making their own clothing. The primitive nature of their farm- 

 ing and household imjilements and utensils make an interesting study. 



ARCHEOLOGICAL FIELDAVORK ON THE MESA VERDE 

 NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO 



In the year 1922, from ^lay to August, inclusive, Dr. J. Walter 

 b>wkes, chief of the Bureau of American Ethnology, continued his 

 archeological investigations, begun 15 years ago, on ruins of the 

 Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. The brief season's work was 

 financed with small allotments from the Bureau of American Ethnol- 

 ogy and the National Park Service. He had for assistants Messrs. 

 W. C. ]\IcKern and J. H. Carter, who contributed much to the 

 success of the summer's work. The site of the field operations was 

 the so-called Mummy Lake village, better named the Far View group 

 of mounds (fig. 88) through which runs the government road to 

 Mancos. The group is situated about 4^ miles north of Spruce-tree 

 Camp, contains 16 large stone buildings, many indicated by mounds 

 of stone, sand, and a luxurious growth of sage brush. The three of 



