II<A).-REPORT UPON THE SECTION OF AMERICAS ABORIGI- 

 NAL POTTER! OF THE I . S. NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR U 



I>\ Wiii. jam II. FIolmes, Honorary Curat 



The greater pari of the collection of aboriginal American potter} 

 has been placed in the northwest coin-; of the Museum. A preliminary 

 classification has been made, and as soon as the necessary cases are 

 completed a representative scries will be placed on exhibition. 



The wall cases have been finished ami are now occupied, chiefly, 

 by the \cr\ extensive collection of modern pueblo ware. The arrange- 

 ment is only temporary, however, as the final placing will not be at- 

 tempted until the more recent additions are catalogued. During the 

 year a large case has been constructed tor the center of the hall, and 

 plans have been made for a number of smaller cases for the floor. 



The year is remarkable for the great number of additions to the col- 

 lection, upwards of ten thousand earthen vessels having been acquired 

 and entered upon the books. These have been obtained through pur- 

 chase, exchange, and donation, as well as through the various agents 

 of the Museum. 



The Bureau of Ethnology has contributed upwards of six thousand 

 pieces. These comprise the collections of James Stevenson from the 

 modern pueblos; of Victor Mindelefi', B. II. Nelson, and II. 0. Yarrow, 

 from the ancient ruins of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, and of Dr. 

 Gyrus Thomas, from the valley of the Mississippi. 



A small collection of interesting fragments from the shell mounds of 

 Maryland was donated by Mr. J. D. McGuire, and a number of fugitive 

 pieces have come from various Southern States. An addition to the 

 Mexican collection, consisting of about oue hundred pieces, mostly in 

 a fragmentary state, has been acquired, by donation, from the writer. 



Perhaps the most unique and important acquisition of tjie Near is 

 that of some three thousand vases from the ancient tombs of Chiriqui, 

 State of Colombia. This collection was secured from J.O. McNeil, the 

 collector. An extremely valuable collection from Ancon, rein, has 

 been secured through the agency of Dr. Wlliam II. Jones. 

 In cataloguing and arranging the collection the curator has beei 



>i>ted by Mr. Henry Waltherand Mr. William II. Harbour. The ordinary 



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