ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT XXXVII 



made up of 18 months of 20 days each, l)ut these days were 

 used in series or groups of 13, thus forming- a highly complex 

 calendar system, involving many interesting relations. 



]]'(ii-J,- ill eastern archeolo(/_ij — Professor W. H. Holmes lias 

 remained in the office, busily employed in the ])reparation of 

 papers relating to stone implements and ceramics. Among tlie 

 S2:)ecial subjects dealt with during the month are (1) an exam- 

 ination and comparative stud}- of the use of animal forms and 

 symbols in the development of pottery ornamentation; (2) a 

 study of certain aljerrant forms of ornamentation of pottery in 

 southeastern United States, by which a pi'ehistoric invasion of 

 the Caribs may be demonstrated; and (3) a study of mortuary 

 utensils, including pots, etc, which, after lireaking, were buried 

 with the dead, as well as similar utensils manufactured either 

 as fragments or as pierced kettles, etc, made in similitude of the 

 utensils destroyed by piercing before burial. The last-named 

 study is of especial significance, in that it would indicate unex- 

 pected recencA" of many arts and structures hitherto regarded 

 as prehistoric, if not of remote antiquity. 



Work ill- western arelieolof/if — The report of ^Ir CosnK)s Min- 

 deleff, covering the period from October 20 to November 25, 

 indicates that he has actively continued surveys and collec- 

 tions among the cliff ruins of Arizona. Thirty-iive ruins were 

 visited, ground plans procured of all but two or three, and 

 photographs and notes were freely taken. The work is yield- 

 ing results beyond anticipation, and ]\Ir ]\Iindeleff is now of 

 opinion that it will be possible to classify the ruins and estab- 

 lish a chronologic sequence throughout a series comn)encing 

 perhaps in pre-Columbian time, certainly in pre-Spanish time, 

 in this region, and extending thence well into the time of 

 definite history. One of the ruins seemed to record in its 

 structure and characteristics a transition between measurably 

 distinct culture stag-es. Again the work was somewhat re- 

 tarded, though less seriously than earlier in the season, by bad 

 weather. 



Work in synonymy — Mr James Mooney continued field work 

 throughout the month. The early days were spent Avith the 

 Cadd( ) and affiliated tribes north of the Washita in Oklahoma, 



