66 EEPOET— 1891. 



Section H. 



Committee of Aid for Anthropological Excavations. — Dr. Garson called 

 attention to the existence of a Committee of Aid formed by the Anthro- 

 pological Institute, and the purpose of which had been explained at last 

 year's Conference of Delegates. He stated that every year there were 

 many people who were desirous of carrying on, and who did sometimes 

 carry on, investigations of this kind, but unfortunately discretion was not 

 sufficiently mingled with the zeal displayed. This was, no doubt, due to 

 an imperfect knowledge of the method of conducting such investigations. 

 Owing to this want of knowledge a large amount of valuable material was 

 often destroyed. Tor the purpose of aiding by direction or otherwise the 

 exploration of ancient remains, a committee had been appointed in 1888 

 by the Anthropological Institute, the chairman of this committee being 

 General Pitt-Rivers, the Inspector of Ancient Monuments. Local Societies 

 would find it to their advantage if they would report to the committee ot 

 the Anthropological Institute when they were desirous of undertaking 

 explorations. Due attention would be given to their applications, and, if 

 thought desirable, the matter would be placed in the hands of some 

 expert member of the Committee, every member of the latter being in 

 some way a specialist; so that local exploring committees could have any 

 assistance they required in the way of skilled advice in opening up 

 barrows, earthworks, camps, &c. 



PreJiistoric Bemains Oommittee. — Mr. J. W. Davis said that this Com. 

 mittee, of which he was the Secretai-y, was appointed in 1887. Since 

 then four reports had been presented, which varied much in length, but 

 of which the interest and importance had been well kept up. He expressed 

 his conviction that if the various Corresponding Societies would take up 

 the work the subject would become of the very greatest importance to the 

 country generally. What was wanted was a record of everything that 

 Lad reference to prehistoric man, his dwellings, implements, pottery, &c. 

 A goodly number of reports had been promised, but it appeared that in 

 many instances their compilation took a considerable amount of time. 

 He hoped that next year they would present a much longer list than that 

 which had been presented to the Section this year. Dr. Munro bad pro- 

 mised a list of the lake dwellings of the British Isles ; and, amongst others, 

 Mr. Gray, who represented the Belfast Society, had promised to send a 

 one-inch map with the ancient remains in Ireland marked upon it. If 

 they could get a complete map of the whole country similarly marked, 

 this map, which would be the property of the British Association, would 

 be of the very highest value, and the Committee would have accomplished 

 most important work. He trusted the Delegates would inform their 

 Societies what had already been done and what still remained to be done, 

 so that they might be able to enlist the services of others who were 

 interested in Archaeological research. 



At the conclusion of the business a discussion took place with reference 

 to the best method for imparting to the Corresponding Societies through 

 the respective Delegates a knowledge of what had taken place at the 

 Conferences. Mr. Hopkinson suggested that each Delegate should read 

 a'paper before his Society, giving an account of the line of work taken 



