ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT XIII 



ideas, iulluenced largely by habit, and measurably cdiiti'olled 

 by simple associations; so that the products of his handiwork, 

 when arranged b^" function and motive, nui}' readily be 

 grouped in a limited number of catagories, which are, at the 

 same time, convenient and significant. The type of ideative 

 association is. exemplified by the tomahawk-calumet, which is 

 at once a war weapon and an appurtenance of peace, and hence 

 serves as a symbolic expression of willingness for war and 

 readiness for peace at the option of the other party; the war 

 concept is emphasized by decorative motives, usually derived 

 from strong and swift animals, while tlie peace concept is 

 strengthened l)v emblems in the form of feathers of small birds 

 or other decorative symbols derived from gentle animals; and 

 the antithetic symbolism serves to keep alive the opposing 

 sentiments of amity and enmity in the primitive mind. In 

 this and other cases, the recognition of motive on the part of 

 the maker enables the student to reduce the chaos of protean 

 forms of primitive artifacts to definite order. Althougli his 

 work was somewhat retarded by ill health, Mr Cushing's pi'Og- 

 ress in researches was satisfactttry. 



When compelled to abandon field work, for reasons already 

 noted, Dr J. Walter Fewkes turned attention to the collections 

 made during earlier seasons, and began the preparation of a 

 memoir treating- of the decorative symbolism of Pueblo pot- 

 tery. This memoir was nearly read}- for pul)lication at the 

 close of the fiscal year; it embraces various new interpreta- 

 tions of importance, the account of which is reserved tV)r a 

 future report. 



Work in Technology 



As has been noted, the Director made observations on the 

 aboriginal technology revealed in the contents of shell mounds 

 and tumuli in Maine dui'ing the earlier part of the fiscal year; 

 and these observations, with othei' data, were subsequently 

 utilized in defining the science. The technical activities are 

 intimately interrelated, and combine to form a complex group, 

 which is commonly assumed to be irresolvable with scientific 

 precision; but the relations of tlie activities are s(t well dis- 

 plaj'ed in primitive culture like that of the American aborig- 



