SECTION B ARCHEOLOGY 



(Hall 16, September 24, 10 a. m.) 



CHAIRMAN: PROFESSOR MARSHALL H. SAVILLE, Columbia University. 

 SPEAKERS: SENOR ALFREDO CHAVERO, Supervisor of the National Museum, 



Mexico. 



PROFESSOR EDOUARD SELER, University of Berlin. 

 SECRETARY: PROFESSOR WILLIAM C. MILLS, Ohio State University. 



ARCHEOLOGY AND ITS RELATIONS TO OTHER 

 BRANCHES OF SCIENCE 



BY ALFREDO CHAVERO 



[Alfredo Chavero, Attorney, Member of Congress, Treasurer of Congress, Comp- 

 troller of the National Bank, Member of the Permanent Arbitration Court at The 

 Hague, Supervisor of the National Museum, Mexico City, Mexico, b. City of 

 Mexico, February 1, 1841. Formerly Professor of Administrative Law in School 

 of Commerce; Member of the Commission that formed the Commercial Code; 

 Director of School of Commerce; Director of the College of Peace; Governor 

 of Federal District, 1871; Sub-secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 

 1877; President of Congress at various times; Perpetual secretary of Geographic 

 Society; and Director of National Museum, 1903; Member of Geographical 

 Society of Mexico; Mexican Academy; Academy of Legislation and Juris- 

 prudence; American Antiquarian Society; American Anthropological Asso- 

 ciation; Association of Archeologic Art of Barcelona, etc. Author of Historia 

 Antigua de Mexico ; Pinturas Jeroglificas ; Apuntes viejos de bibliografia Mexi- 

 cana ; Los dioses astronomicos de los antiguos mexicanos; and various other 

 works and papers on the history and archeology of Mexico.] 



THE Organizing Committee of the International Congress of 

 Arts and Science appointed me to deliver an address on archeology 

 in its relation to the other sciences. The honor conferred on me was 

 so great, that I could not but accept. I intend therefore to speak on 

 this interesting subject, laying special stress on Mexican archeology. 



Archeology is generally considered as a science of curiosity, 

 and bringing no practical results. The common belief is that it 

 only arises from the wish common to every people of knowing its 

 past. Each people would know whence it has come, just as man 

 strives to learn who his forefathers were. In spite, however, of this 

 belief, every day sees a greater increase in archeological studies; 

 and the nations of the world to-day especially those which enjoy 

 a more advanced state of civilization undertake nothing which 

 is not useful, and which does not produce practical benefits. And 

 we may ask ourselves, what can these be in archeology? The 

 answer will be found in the study of its relation to the other sciences 

 and arts. 



