| OCR Text |
Show XXXII ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR number of instructive specimens found in Indian graves on the sites of old Indian villages and elsewhere. The collection of pottery is large, embracing several hundred complete specimens, presenting almost every type, both as to form and as to ornamentation, heretofore discovered in the earthworks, also a few unique in form and decoration. The craniological collection contains a number of perfect specimens. It is especially valuable because of the full record kept regarding locality and all the particulars relating to each specimen. The collection of articles of stone includes, besides arrow and spear points, scrapers, hoes, diggers, chipped celts, dis-coidal and chunkee stones, grooved axes, pitted stones, hammer and pounding stones, a remarkably fine series of polished celts, a large number of steatite pipes, three remarkable winged pipes of green chlorite slate of the finest workmanship, two large image pipes, gorgets, plummets, and boat- shaped ornaments. A number of shell and bone ornaments were obtained, also some of the finest engraved shells so far discovered, and several copper implements and ornaments. Among the articles obtained indicating contact with European civilization are some specimens of hammered iron from a North Carolina mound; some bracelets, brooches, crosses, and other objects of silver from a Wisconsin mound; fragments of copper plate bearing the impress of machinery on a metallic stamp from an Illinois mound, and a hog's tooth from an Arkansas mound. The value of this collection is enhanced by the care taken to have the specimens properly labeled and numbered from the time tbey were found in the field until they received the Museum catalogue number and by preparing a corresponding catalogue giving the locality where each specimen was obtained, the name of the collector, and the environment of specimen found- for example, whether in a mound, in a grave, or on the surface- which catalogue has been filed in the National Museum as a means of future reference and verification. A large number of mound groups and other ancient works |
