[13] COLLECTING ANTHROPOLOGICAL INFORMATION HRDLICKA. 



to peel off in scales. A fairly good method is the inclosing- of the 

 cleaned skull or bone within a moderate laj^er of plaster of Paris (after 

 the surface of the skull shall have been covered and all interstices 

 filled with fat or cotton or suitable rags). When a skull thus treated 

 dries, the earth that fills the cavity may be emptied through the fora- 

 men magnum to diminish the weight; but the plaster must not be 

 disturbed until after the specimen has reached its destination. 



It is essential to identify the tribe or people of the individuals to 

 whom the recovered bones belonged. Such identification may be 

 obtained by the collector himself through direct knowledge, or arrived 

 at from data and specimens furnished by him from the ethnological or 

 archeological features of the burial. Keeping the individuals sepa- 

 rate, where other parts of the skeletons than the crania are collected, 

 is highly important, and very simply achieved by marking with an 

 aniline pencil each part of every skeleton with a serial number. Such 

 marking avoids the often inconvenient or even impracticable packing 

 of each skeleton in a separate package. 



It is an error to collect only the crania, or even only the best or 

 adult crania, when more could have been secured. It is best to 

 save every piece of each skeleton and leave elimination of the useless 

 to those in charge of the material in institutions. Where skulls or 

 bones are merely broken, it is often possible to reconstruct the speci- 

 men. The collection of ethnological objects found associated with 

 the skeletal material serves not only for purposes of identification, 

 but also throws light upon the age of the burial and upon the culture 

 of the people. 



Supplement all finds by notes taken on the spot, and let them be as 

 accurate and circumstantial as possible. Note the location, character, 

 and all learned of the burial place; its relative position with respect 

 to ruins, if such be near; the manner of burial, the depth of graves, 

 and the position of bodies; ethnological or archeological articles found, 

 and where, etc. The circumstances of each find naturally determine 

 the points of most importance. 



The packing of bones and skulls in good condition is quite easy. 

 Almost any light and elastic material may be used, such as papers, 

 hair, rags, cut straw, leaves, twigs, sawdust, etc., and any box, barrel, 

 basket, or crate will do for transportation or until something better 

 can be provided. Bags should be avoided as much as possible,- for 

 bones are easily broken in them. It is well to pack the skulls apart 

 from the rest of the bones. Place a pad between the teeth, to pre- 

 vent their breaking or loss. Surround each skull with cloth or papers 

 and pack tightly. A number of soap or other smaller boxes may be 

 inclosed in a case, which diminishes the chances of breakage, but it 

 is seldom possible to do this in the field. An excellent but not often 

 practicable method is to have little boxes made especially for that 



