X BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



FIELD RESP:ARCH AND EXPLORATION 



Earl}' in the iiscal year tiie Director resiuued the study of 

 shell mounds and earthworks in Maine, and continued the 

 comparison of aboriginal relics contained in these accumula- 

 tions with the handicraft of the partially accultured aborigines 

 still living in the adjacent forests and among* the less-frequented 

 inlets and islands of the coast. Some of the results were put 

 in the form of a preliminary paper on "Technology, or the 

 Science of Industries," designed for incorporation in this report. 



Under a special authoiization from the Secretary, the 

 ethnologist in charge, Mr W J McGee, with Mr W. H. 

 Holmes, of the LT. S. National Museum, made an extended 

 ethnologic and archeologic reconnaissance in California during 

 October, November, and December. The districts examined 

 comprised the western slopes and foothills of the Sierra Nevada, 

 including the Table mountain region from Yuba river south- 

 ward to Tule river; a portion of the northern Coast range 

 region, centering about Ukiah; typical portions of the Sacra- 

 mento valley, centering about Stockton, and the coastwise areas 

 and offshore islands of the southwestern region of the state. 

 The primary purpose was the collection of typical artifacts 

 representing the aboriginal culture of the peculiarly Interesting 

 Pacific coast province ; a secondary jjurpose was the collection 

 of prehistoric relics, the comparison of these with the early 

 historical period, and the general study of the culture history 

 of the region ; and a satisfactory degree of progress was made 

 in the attainment of botli ])urposes. The operations resulted 

 in substantial enrichment of the Museum through the acquisi- 

 tion of new and representative material, and indirectly the 

 opportunities for local work led to the acquisition of a highly 

 useful collection of basketry — the Hudson collection — which 

 throws nuich lig-ht on the aborig-inal handicraft and motives of 

 the California Indians. 



In November Dr J. Walter Fewkes repaired to Arizona for 

 the purpose of continuing researches concerning the winter 

 ceremonies of the Hopi Indians, l)ut soon after his arrival an 

 epidemic of smallpox manifested itself in such severity as com- 



