XXVIII ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



tails more fully set forth. As an illustration one case is pre- 

 sented. A large mound was opened which was found to con- 

 tain over ninety skeletons, irregularly placed and at different 

 depths. At the outset a plat of the mound was made ; each skel- 

 eton was located on it as discovered, and notes were taken of 

 the depth, position, articles found with it, etc. Thus the exact 

 position of each skeleton in the mound is recorded, as well as 

 that of any article accompanying it The collections made are 

 more varied in character than those of any previous year, in- 

 cluding several new types of pottery, some unusually fine stone 

 implements, and from several mounds articles showing contact 

 with Europeans. The pottery obtained by Messrs. Middleton 

 and Thing in Arkansas is of more than ordinary interest, con- 

 taining a number of specimens of the rarer forms, also several 

 colored specimens. 



The same care has been taken as heretofore in labeling and 

 numbering the specimens, so that each can be traced by the 

 record to the exact place where it was found. The illustra- 

 tions showing the construction, character, and form of the 

 various works explored exceed in number, accuracy, and im- 

 portance those of any previous year. 



EXPLORATIONS IN THE SOUTHWEST. 

 WORK OF MR. .JAMES STEVENSON. 



Mr. James Stevenson was placed in charge of a party, with 

 instructions to proceed to Arizona and New Mexico to make 

 researches and collections among the Pueblo Indians and the 

 ancient ruins in that region. 



Mr. Stevenson's party was divided into three sections. The 

 section in charge of Mr. F. T. Bickford visited the remarkable 

 series of ruins in Chaco canon, in northwestern New Mexico ; 

 Canon de Chelly and its branch canons ; the cliff dwellings in 

 Walnut canon, in Arizona, and a group of interesting cave 

 dwellings, different in structure from any heretofore found, near 

 Flagstaff, in the same Territory. All these were carefully ex- 

 amined. Full and extensive notes, as well as sketches and 

 photographic illustrations, were made of these ruins. 



