ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT LIX 



Work i» IndUtn Jiierof/h/jjlis — L)r (.'yrus Thomas has con- 

 tinued his researches rehiting to the ^la^'a hierog-lyplis. During 

 the niontli lie bronght to substantial cdnipletion the text of the 

 bulletin relating- to the day names and symbols of the Maya 

 calendar; at tlie same time he supervised the execution of the 

 requisite illustrations. Among the interesting questions con- 

 nected with the Maya, calendar is the origin and significance of 

 the hieroglyphs used as symbols for days. Some of these 

 have already been interpreted Ijy Brintou, Seler, and others, 

 and it has been inferred from these interpretations that the 

 entire system of symbols represents a system of nivthologic 

 concepts ; so that the calendric inscriptions not only comprise 

 chronologies akin to those of the plains Indians, l)ut also 

 eiTibody records of the beliefs of the writers. Dr Thomas has 

 been able to confirm some of the conclusions reached by other 

 investigators and to correct others. 



Work in eastern arcJieoIo(/i/ — Pi-ofessor W. H. Holmes has 

 completed the preparation of his monographs on fictile ware 

 and stone art. Both of these works are substantiallv com- 

 pleted as to text and illustrations. During the month a large 

 number of objects previously collected have been examined, 

 and the results of the examination are incorporated in the 

 report. A few additional trips liy Professor Holmes and J\Ir 

 Dinwiddie were made to the Clifton soapstone quarrv for the 

 purpose of completing the collections of material from this 

 point, and some of this material has been used as subjects of 

 discussion and illustration in Professor Holmes' monographs. 

 In addition, the Ethnologist in Charge and Professor Holmes 

 repaired to the Pass creek site, near Luray, Virginia, for the 

 pur])ose of collecting additional data relating to the stone art 

 products in the large mound on this site. A considerable addi- 

 tional collection of stone work was found in the mound and 

 vicinity: also an aboriginal cemetery was discovered in the 

 plowed field, and a typical collection of mortuary potterv was 

 made. The stone implements are of exceptional interest in 

 that the turtleback forms are rejects from the manufacture of 

 celts — the rejects hitherto studied by Professor Holmes repre- 

 sent predominanth' or exclusively the manufacture of narrow, 



