DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY. Ill 



The specimens banded to my care are carefully examined, and the 

 best and most characteristic set apart for exhibition. Duplicates which 

 can not in any way add to the value of the collection receive a cata- 

 logue number, but, instead of being exhibited, are placed in drawers, 

 and reserved for exchanges. This mode of discrimination, however, is 

 chiefly applied to the numerous specimens — mostly of chipped stone — 

 which are found on the surface, but hardly ever to small or large col- 

 lections of artefacts and human or animal remains obtained from graves, 

 mounds, shell-heaps, caves, etc. Such objects, even when insignificant 

 as specimens, are generally kept together and exhibited as a whole. 



I have for years followed a dualistic system in arranging the antiqui- 

 ties of this country. There is, as I stated in my report for 1884, a large 

 general collection (mostly exhibited in table cases), which consists of 

 relics of chipped and ground stone, of copper, bone, horn, shell, clay, 

 and, to a small extent, of wood. These objects have been grouped 

 according to material, and then classed under such denominations as 

 their forms indicated or suggested, and with strict regard to the transi- 

 tion or evolution from simple to more developed forms. This arrange- 

 ment offers to the intelligent visitor an opportunity to take in at one 

 glance, as it were, the whole culture of the prehistoric North American, 

 as far as it can be represented by visible tokens. 



There are, secondly, the before-mentioned special or local collections, 

 composed of North American articles found in one locality — a mound, 

 grave, artificial shell-deposit, etc. These collections are designed to 

 show the difference in the mechanical acquirements and modes of life 

 of the people formerly inhabiting the various parts of this country. 



While comparatively few additions are made to the general collection, 

 which as it is fully serves its purpose, the number of special collec- 

 tions is constantly increased, and thus, in the course of time, every sec- 

 tion of North America will be represented. The collections in question , 

 of course, vary much in extent ; they some times only fill a tray, but 

 occasionally occupy several shelves of an upright case. Ultimately 

 they will be arranged geographically. 



The observations thus far made relate to collections from portions of 

 this continent north of Mexico, Central and South America, Japan, etc. 5 

 and a representative series of prehistoric antiquities from Europe. 



In the course of this fiscal year 119 special collections, small and large, 

 have been placed on exhibition. By far the greater number (88) were 

 delivered by the Bureau of Ethnology. The others are contributions or 

 acquisitions from private persons. The more important ones have been 

 mentioned in the first section of this report. 



The number of duplicate specimens sent during the year to individu- 

 als in exchange for objects received in this department, or in others, 

 was comparatively small. A grooved stone maul from the Moquis, 

 Arizona, was sent to C. M. Sawyer, Mechanics' Falls, Androscoggin 

 County, Maine. The Kev. Mr. Kessler, Magdeburg, Prussia, received 



