152 BUREAU OF xVMEETCAiSr ETHNOLOGY [bull. 60 



arrow-shaft straighteners, etc., and all of these and others would 

 come under the broader group of shaping- utensils or arts. Personal 

 ornaments, a use group of wide scope and at the same time an arti- 

 fact group, would eml)race several subdivisions and a very large 

 number of simple artifact groups and might conveniently be made 

 the subject of separate and intensive study. 



It would ai)i)ear from the foregoing brief review of the several 

 available methods of classifying the antiquities of America for pur- 

 poses of research and record that no one method is alone satisfactory 

 for comi)lete and exhaustive presentation; the majority are, however, 

 well adapted for the examination of more or less important parts of 

 the field. It is the pri\ilege of the arclieologist to adopt such classi- 

 fication and take such points of view as he believes Avill best serve 

 his particular purj)ose, the broader purpose being to place the whole 

 body of the subject matter on record in the manner best suited to the 

 needs of the anthr(){)ol()gist-historian. who in due course may expect 

 to have at his conunand data sulliciently complete to enable him to 

 give to the world a well-rounded story of the American race. 



For the purpose of this treatise, which is designed as a reference 

 work or handbook, it is believed that presentation of the antiquities 

 by groups based primarily on the materials employed will prove most 

 satisfactory, consideration being given under each nuiterial group, 

 first, to the activities connected with acciuirement ; second, to manipu- 

 lation or manufacture; and third, to form and utilization. 



