IX. CULTURE CHARACTERIZATION" AREAS 



AS AN initial step in the description and interpretation of the 

 antiquities of the continent, the archeologist observes the 

 tribes of to-day, their cultural characteristics and environ- 

 ments, and acquaints himself with what is known of them histori- 

 cally. He finds that their achievements are greatly diversified and 

 that certain forms and states of culture characterize particular geo- 

 graphical areas and realizes that environment has had a large share 

 in determining the course of the culture evolution. He examines the 

 antiquities and finds that analogous geographical distinctions char- 

 acterize the material culture of the past and reaches the conclusion 

 that the relations of environment to man and culture must play an 

 important part in the prosecution of his researches and in the analysis 

 of aboriginal history. 



In the practical work of museum classification and arrangement — 

 a work which has served in part to give form to this writing — 

 archeological materials are necessarily grouped primarily by conti- 

 nents and other natural divisions, and secondarily by political divi- 

 sions, such as states and territories. Separation by the larger natural 

 divisions is always necessary, but separation by ethnic areas, or 

 areas of culture characterization, as they are sometimes called, is 

 most advantageous. These areas may be large or small according to 

 the understanding or the needs of the student. By their means he 

 approximates the real or natural grouping of the material traces of 

 human achievement and studies to advantage culture and culture 

 relationships and the causes of the resemblances and differences 

 everywhere met with. The geographical limitations of culture units 

 are, as a matter of course, not usually well defined. Cultures are 

 bound to overlap and blend along the borders and more especially 

 along lines of ready communication. But notwithstanding this, 

 certain characteristics of achievement or groups of culture traits 

 within each area will be found to separate it from 

 Areas ™''"'^^° its neighbors and afford effective means of com- 

 parison with other culture groups. In the pres- 

 ent work, keeping in view the archeological rather than the eth- 

 nological evidence, it is convenient to recognize 11 areas north of 

 Mexico (fig. 41), namely: (1) The North Atlantic area; (2) the 

 Georgia-Florida area; (8) the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley 

 38657°— 19— Bull. 60, pt i 8 95 



