The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-19
NEW Y0RKS NATURAL HISTORY
An Interesting Geological Collection
ut the Museum There


NEW YORK, June f9-Anong the col
lections in the American Museum of Nat
uraI History, this city. probably none are
more interesting than the several local
collections which are arranged especially
10 illustrate the natural history of the city
and its immediate vicinity In forming
these collections the trustees have had in
view the educational character of the mu-
scum. When the collections are developed
they viii fully illustrate the geological
formations. the minerals, and the extinct
and living forms Of animal life In order
TO make these local exhibits complete it
is essential that there should be added
collection Illustrative Of the Indians who
had so long occupied this region and who
were gradually forced from their ancient
homes.
That this epoch Of Indian occupation,
now Of almost prehistoric character,
should be represented in this educational
museum, and that New Workers should
take special interest in obtaining such
an exhibit, seem beyond question That
the plan has already net with apprecia-
ton is shown by the fact that the expense
Of the explorations which have been car
ried on for the last four years has been
provided for in large part by the generous
contributions OF two men who became in
teTested in the work Cid Indian sites on
Staten Island, in Pelham Park, near
WestcEester. and ut Crotoa have been ex-
plorcd, ard considerable material has been
gathered from shell heaps. village sites
and burial places. Pottery vessels. stone
implements, bone implements, pipes. ana
various other objects of native work, AID
arrow points and ornaments made Of
brass obtained in the carly contact with
white settlers, as well as a number of IN
dian skeletons and the bones of animals,
including those Of the Indian dog, have
been obtained Numerous village sites.
shell heaps, rock shelters and earth en-
baakments have been described, photo
graphed and located On map.
1t is one of the objects Of these explo-
rations 70 prepare map showing the va
riOus Indian towns, camp sites and burial
places, and as far as possible to trace out
the historical Indian villages
another purpose is to bring together the
domestic utensils. the weapons fmple-
r7rnts. and ornaments Of the different
tribes which lived in this region, and to
make models Of rock shelters and earth
works; in fact. to present rs full a his
tory as possible OF Indian life as it was
before and at the time of the coming Of
the white race
A NUMBER OF sites nave DSen round
which viii be explored without delay, so
rapidly are they being destroyed by set
Element or by cultivation of the land
Many of these sites are on land which
permission has been obtained to explore,
but in a year or two this land will be used
for residential or business purposes, and
the opportunities for archaeological or
business purposes will be lost
The income at the disposal of the trus-
tees Of the museum is appropriated for
other purposes, and they depend on those
specially interested in this LEGAL work for
the means to carry it on From $500 10
5000 a year is required, and every little
contribution will help This work must
be done by trained archaeoIogists. with
the help of two or three labOrers to do the
heavy digging It must be done carefully
with troweI and brush TO remove the skel-
tons and various objects found Photo
graphs and sketches Of the objects in
place must be made. as well as plans and
descriptions of the sites explored As fun
a story as possible Of the life and Gus
toms of the Indians whose former homes
are investigated must be gained, that an
Instructive exhibition must be gained
that al instructive exhibition in the mJI-
scum Illustrative of the old Indian life in
New York may be prepared
Contributions may be sent to J. H Win
ser. assistant treasurer of the American
Museum of Natural History, Central Park
| West, or to F. W. Putnam, curator of an
chronology.