SIXTH REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I9O9 59 



Volume 1 Introductory chapters; Local lists, Water 

 birds and Game birds (Pygopodes, Paludicolae, 

 Limicolae, Gallinae and Columbae), 42 plates in color $3 



Volume 2 Land birds (Accipitres, Striges, Coccyges, 



Pici, Macrochires and Passeres), 60 plates in color $4 



Purchasers of volume 1 will be at liberty to buy volume 2, 

 when issued, at the price of $3. 



VI 



' REPORT ON THE ARCHEOLOGY SECTION 



Collecting in all of the various branches of this section of the 

 museum has been necessarily subordinated to the work of pro- 

 curing models and superintending the work of casting the fig- 

 ures and making the preliminary field sketches for backgrounds 

 for the ethnological groups. The pressure of this undertaking 

 made it impossible for the Archeologist to engage in active field 

 work in archeology, although he made preliminary surveys of 

 certain sites in central and southeastern New York. 



In September the assistant in archeology was sent to Port 

 Jervis to excavate the site of a Minsi village and burial ground 

 which the Archeologist had previously examined at the sugges- 

 tion of the Director. Little or nothing is known regarding the 

 archeology of the Minsis nor was it possible to determine from 

 an examination of the Port Jervis site much concerning their 

 culture except in the line of their mortuary customs. 



The Van Etten site, the site of the Minsi village and burial 

 place is found on the Levi Van Etten farm on the east bank of 

 the Minisink river, 2 miles from Port Jervis. It has been known 

 for many years to the people of the region. Tradition as well 

 as material evidence kept it constantly in the minds of inter- 

 ested persons. The annual spring freshets of the Neversink cut 

 away the alluvial hill upon which the burial ground was situ- 

 ated and bones with accompanying relics would roll down the 

 eroded bank and either be caught upon the sand bars or fall in 

 the waters to be swept away and lost forever. A considerable 

 number of collectors have visited the site and picked up the 

 relics brought to light by rains and flood and several have exca- 

 vated certain portions of it but with little success. 



Excavations conducted during the months of September and 

 October 1909 by the assistant in archeology resulted in the dis- 

 covery of 30 graves and several hearths and refuse pits. The 



