REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I916 6/ 



X 



REPORT OF THE ARCHEOLOGIST 



The activities of the Archeologist of the State Museum are 

 divided in the field of research into two distinct groups, each of 

 which requires different methods of approach and study. The 

 field of archeology requires a knowledge of the prehistoric and 

 more recent aboriginal occupation of the State, a knowledge of 

 the various culture areas and the ability to seek out the important 

 centers and excavate them. The field of ethnology requires the 

 study of the folk ways, social organization rituals, folk lore, tech- 

 nology and material culture of the Indians who still survive and 

 who are able to give information concerning their ancestors. It 

 will be seen that the special training needful for equipment in each 

 of these lines of research differs, and that while the two fields are 

 correlated, any attempt to follow both thoroughly requires con- 

 stant application. 



Supplementing the research activities are those of the curator. 

 The archeological and ethnological collections in our custody are 

 extensive and very valuable. To arrange, catalog, label and instal 

 the specimens properly is a work of years and will require care- 

 ful study. The value of our collections to students of ethnology 

 is such that every effort is being put forth to bring out fully the 

 facts represented by them. 



Condition of the collections. The collections placed in the 

 care of this section of the Museum are installed in the mezzanine 

 halls of the top floor and extend from one end of the building to 

 the other. The ethnological collection occupies the most space. 

 Owing to the rarity of the specimens and the relatively small num- 

 ber to be obtained it is not likely that our cases will soon be over- 

 taxed. The installation is in tall cases, centrally placed, and in wall 

 cases having desk extensions. The wampum belts of the Iroquois 

 Confederacy, placed permanently in our custody, are displayed in 

 the ethnological hall. 



Care is taken to poison properly all specimens that might become 

 infected with moths or other vermin but we have not yet been able 

 to destroy all vestiges of such life in some of the more recently 

 acquired specimens of food plants. Constant inspection during the 

 year has contributed to the safety of the valuable specimens and 

 3 



