APPENDIX 5 



KEPOET ON THE BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the field 

 researches, office work, and other operations of the Bureau of Ameri- 

 can Ethnology during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1941, conducted 

 in accordance with the act of Congress of April 18, 1940, which 

 provides "* * * for continuing ethnological researches among the 

 American Indians and the natives of Hawaii and the excavation and 

 preservation of archeologic remains. * * *" 



SYSTEMATIC RESEARCHES 



M. W. Stirling, Chief of the Bureau, left Washington on Decem- 

 ber 29 to continue his archeological excavations in southern Mexico. 

 Intensive excavations were begun at the site of Cerro de las Mesas 

 on the Rio Blanco in the state of Veracruz, this site having been 

 visited the preceding season. In addition, another expedition was 

 made to the site of Izapa in the southwestern part of the state of 

 Chiapas. As in the 2 preceding years, the work was undertaken in 

 cooperation with the National Geographic Society. Dr. Philip 

 Drucker again accompanied Mr. Stirling as assistant archeologist. 



At Cerro de las Mesas 20 carved stone monuments were unearthed 

 and photographed, several mounds were cross-sectioned, and a num- 

 ber of stratigraphic trenches dug on various sections of the site. 

 The stratigraphic work proved unusually successful and extends the 

 cultural column for this part of Veracruz to a much later date than 

 did the excavations at Tres Zapotes. Two initial series dates were 

 deciphered at Cerro de las Mesas, one being in the 1st katun, the other 

 in the 4th katun, of baktun 9. Another stone monument at this site 

 was of considerable interest because of its similarity to the famous 

 Tuxtla statuette. Large quantities of jade were found including one 

 cache containing 782 specimens. 



At Izapa a large number of stelae, most of them with altars, were 

 excavated and photographed. This site is important because of its 

 location, which makes it an interesting link between the west coast 

 of Guatemala and the isthmian region of southern Mexico. 



At the conclusion of the work at Cerro de las Mesas at the end 

 of April, the collections were brought to Mexico City where Dr. 

 Drucker remained to work with them. 



433734—42 1 



