ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT. XXIII 



the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, and of the Ohio 

 valley, which determined, among other points of interest, that 

 the ascription of great antiquity to forms of stone implements 

 of America, which ha^'e been hitherto classed with European 

 paleoliths in age as well as in fabrication, was not substantiated 

 by the ascertained facts. 



Careful explorati(in of the Verde valley in Arizona followed 

 that previously made in other parts of the large southwestern 

 region of the United States in which the presence of many ex- 

 tensive ruins had given rise to fanciful theories. The data as 

 classified and discussed show that the hypothesis of a vanished 

 race enjoying high civilization, proposed to account for the 

 architectui'e of the ruined structures, is unnecessary. 



The close attention hitherto given to Indian languages was 

 continued, in recognition of the fact that some of them are fast 

 passing beyond the possibility of record and study, and that 

 the ethnic classification of all of the Indian tribes can be made 

 accurate only through the determination of their linguistic 

 divisions and connections. The study of aboriginal mythology 

 and religious practices was also continued, with special atten- 

 tion to the ghost dances and "Messiah religion," which have 

 produced important consequences bearing on the problem of 

 proper national dealing with the Indians. The misconception 

 of Indian religious philosophy, which in fact presents rather 

 apparent than actual antagonism to civilization as it is in the 

 stage commonly traversed toward higher culture, has occa- 

 sioned needless loss of life and treasure. 



The field woi'k of the year is divided into (1) archeology 

 and (2) general field studies, the latter being directed chiefl}^ 

 to religion, technology, and linguistics. 



ARCHEOLOGIC FIELD WORK. 

 RESEARCHES BY MR. W. H. HOLMES. 



As previously announced, general exploration of the mound 

 region was discontinued and archeologic field work was placed 

 ill the charge of Mr. William H. Holmes. During the summer 

 of 1890 he began the work of archeologic exploration in the 



