XII BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 
purpose of examining quarry sites and caverns occupied 
in ancient times by the aborigines. 
Reports have been prepared on the explorations at 
Lansing, Kans., and at Leslie, Mo. The former of these 
researches deals with the important and ever-recurring 
question of the antiquity of man in America. It has 
been the aim of the Bureau, and especially of the present 
Chief, to occupy conservative ground with respect to this 
subject and to scrutinize the discoveries or reputed dis- 
coveries reported from time to time, so that erroneous 
interpretations shall not prevail. The purpose of the 
excavations made at Lansing was to expose the forma- 
tions containing the human remains so fully that geolo- 
gists of all ways of thinking might study them to 
advantage, thus preventing the adoption of conclusions 
based on inadequate observations. The Leshe iron mine 
study has an interesting bearing on the technic and 
industrial history of the tribes. It has been a matter of 
much surprise, as investigations of ancient mining and 
quarrying have progressed, that the aborigines, seemingly 
nonprogressive and shiftless, should have conceived and 
carried out really great enterprises. The technical 
knowledge and skill displayed are of a low order, indeed, 
but the work accomplished indicates remarkable enter- 
prise and persistence. 
Mr W J MeGee, ethnologist in charge, continued as 
Acting Director until October 18. During this period 
he prepared the annual report for the preceding year, 
made a hasty archeological and ethnological reconnois- 
sance in Minnesota, and in September visited Baddeck, 
Nova Seotia, whence he was called to the deathbed of 
Major Powell in Haven, Me. In December he visited 
Mexico with the view of arranging an expedition to 
the island of Tiburon, but in this he was not suc- 
cessful. He stopped for a day in New Mexico to visit 
some ancient ruins near the village of Cuchilla. After 
returning from Mexico Mr McGee suffered from a fever, 
