CHAPTER XI. 



ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



Perhaps we can help our students in this most 

 interesting" department in no better way than by pre- 

 senting- to them the following letter from our late 

 specialist, Mr. Hilborn T. Cresson, of Philadelphia: 



From what I can learn upon the subject, many of our A. A. 

 chapters have collections of ethnological and archaeological 

 specimens, such as bones from the shell-heaps and mounds, 

 stone arrow-points from the graves of Tennessee, and surface 

 'finds,' stone axes, pipes, pottery, etc. It would certainly be 

 a great source of satisfaction, if all the chapters of the A. A. 

 throughout North and South America would unite in preserv- 

 ing archaeological specimens, especially those of Tennessee, 

 throughout the valley of the Mississippi, Florida in fact, all 

 our western and southern States. Specimens collected should 

 be carefully labeled with precise details as to where 

 found, whether in aboriginal mounds, cemeteries, graves, or 

 surface of ground; by whom found and date of find- 

 ing, occupation of person finding same, etc. (this last 

 question indicates whether it be a professional dealer, 

 picker, farmer, school-boy, or A. A. member; specimens 

 obtained by the three last named being much more reliable, 

 we think, than those handled by the two former especially if 

 the object be of importance and rarity). Archaeological 

 specimens that are rough and uncouth in appearance and 

 rudely made, should not be thrown aside for this reason. They 

 are of great value, especially if from a mound or cemetery; 

 nor should the smallest fragment of pottery be thrown aside. 

 They all help to unravel the mystery about those beings who 

 made them and have long since crumbled into dubt. Photo- 

 graphs (THOSE MADE BY MEMBERS PREFERRED) of 

 rare specimens in private collections are very valuable, IF 

 MINUTE DETAILS in regard to them be preserved very 

 frequently upon the decease of their owner they are scattered 

 to the four winds by the auctioneer's hammer, never to be 

 reunited. They are in this case of very little value for scien- 



