Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09

paper that excited considerable attention
was read before the Anthropological society
last Tuesday evening by Prof. Cyrus Thomas.
His theme was the methods Of study in Ameri-
can archaeology, and he made a vigorous pro-
test against what he termed the European
system.
The point to which. he said, he wished chiefly
20 draw attention. was that in the study of
American archaeology, or, to put it more COM
prehensively, Of prehistoric America, the
usual order Of procedure in investigation in
this branch must be reversed. Neither on
the eastern continent nor in America
has archaeology been reduced to
science or the study thereof placed
ON a scientific basis. The arrangement by the
antiquarians Of Northern Europe of prehistoric
time into the paleollthic, neolithic, bronze
and iron ages, he maintained, is wholly out of
place and worse than useless in this country,
whatever value may be placed on such a divi-
sion In Europe. Those studying the antiquities
of the classic and oriental lands have taken his
tory as basis from which to carry back their
lines OF research. In other words. they COM
menced with that which is known and positive
and by means of investigation and discovery
feel their way back carefully step by step
into the dim realm of prehistoric times
Then archaeology is in fact but an extension
in a backward direction Of positive history,
gathering up Of the lost stones of the historical
edifice and placing them in position. Widely diff
ferent has been the method of the leading school
OF modern archaeologists in Northern and
Western Europe. which some wish to see
adopted in the study of
PREHISTORIC AMERICA
They have entered the field as though they
were in an old world having no connection
with the present one. Primeval man. the
fountain head, seems to be the great object
of their search, while the broad stream by
which they might direct their course with COM
parative certainty from some well-known point
seems to be almost wholly overlooked Re-
ferrlng to the people mentioned in "Gullivers
Travels, or some other equally truthful nara
tive OF people accustomed to build their
houses by commencing at the top and building
downward, Prof. Thomas said this appears to
q large extent to be the method adopted by
the leading school of psychologists of the pres
ent day. When il was ascertained that America
was a new continent. the classic works and the
dusty tones of medieval times we're ransacked
for the purpose of finding a solution of the
problem Of the origin Of the red man. Failing
in this, theories were advanced in copious
abundance and with as many different shades
as there are tints in the forest in autumn Yet
until recently. no one thought Of studying the
red man himself. Even at the present day the
name Indian" is an indefnable term, a fact
which the speaker believed Maj. Powell was
speaker reviewed briefly American archaeology
and its treatment BY those who have discussed
the subject. Scarcely, he said, had the fact
that America had its ancient monuments
as well as the eastern continent been
made known before theories as to their
origin and their builders began to
blossom forth in rich abundance.
The Spaniards Of DeSoto's expedition were
given the credit Of their authorship until dis
covery added so greatly to their number that
hpCana ahar
doned- Then the happy thought was pre-
sented that this country was. in some far dis
tant age. inhabited by a cultured race which
after long occupancy was obliterated by in
coming savage hordes, leaving nothing to tell
rs the
STORY OF THEIR EXISTENCE,
their numbers, and their culture save these
even their name had been blotted from exist
ence, one had to be coined by which they
might be designated, and they have since then
been known as the Mound Builders" Re-
ferring to the theories and discoveries of va
rious writers. Prof. Thomas said il was some
what strange that the few writer's who dwelt
long among the Indians usually attributed these
works directly or indirectly to the Indians
De urged the need of placing the study on a
scientific basis; OF leaving paleolithic man, 80
TO speak, alone until we work back to him. and
OF studying historic man until we have traced
him back as far as the rays of history will guide
our steps. 1t is, he said a singular truth that
most Of the writers on American archaeology
so far it relates to the antiquities of our own
region, have been comparatively unacquainted
with the early history Of our country or have
ignored II In arriving at their conclusions
They have passed from the realm of history
into that Of the imagination. 1t is lamentably
true that even at present the basis of history
on which to build our chronological and arch@-
ologlcal structures Is not fully prepared. Com
paratively few of the writer's on American ar
cheology seem to be aware Of the fact that
history, IN the broad sense of all recorded
data. has given rs the origin Of very large
portion of
THESE ANCIENT WORKS.
Starting from this sure foundation our first
step is to ascertain to what extent these ancient
works are attributable to the known aborignes
OF the country. The idea that all the prehis-
toric monuments of the country from Maine to
Texas and from Dakota to Florida are attrib-
utable TO the people Of a single great nation ia
pleasing to the imagination but Is too prepos-
ferrous to demand serious discussion. Never
theless that innate craving in the human mind
Tor something great. wonderful and astound-
ing has led large portion of the writer's on this
subject to adopt the idea. The careful study
OF tribal history, traditions. habits, and pecu-
liarities Il necessary prerequisite to the solu-
ton Of our archeologic problems. The more
relation to the ancient works, the better
satisfied. the speaker said. he became
that local permanency was a char
acteristic Of the aboriginal tribes until
disturbed BY the introduction of the European
element. They were, with few exceptions
least Of the Mississipp) limited, so far as their
tribal homes were concerned. to their we'll
known historic seats. 1t is apparent. he main
tanned that the true method of study after
having reached the general conclusion that the
ancient monuments of the country are attribu-
table to the Indians. if that be the conclusion
Is 70 begin with the basis Of tribal histories.
habits, customs, &c. From this basis we must
feel our way back, making progress by means
OF elimination. Determining Characteristic
among the works attributable to one tribe or
stock, We thus, as does the naturalist separate
one group from the aggregate and lessen the
field Of study. When this work is substantiallv
accomplished, as the speaker believed Il
would be before many years, the
data obtained can be allotted 10
respective authors, that is to say to the 6if-
ferent tribes and people to whom they are at
tributable. Close study and careful investiga-
ton, he said. would perhaps succeed in dig
ging up, here and there. an extinct tribe Un-
I'll Psychologists have reached this stage of
progress, by eliminating from the mass all
that can be reasonably accounted for, the hunt
for Paleolithic or primeval man is
WASTE OF EFFORT
He viii sooner be found BY the laborious
proress oufliuad than bv tba o&xoxu~.