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Archaeology In Michigan

Archaeology In Michigan image
Parent Issue
Day
10
Month
April
Year
1903
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

ARCHAEOLOGY IN MICHIGAN

 

EFFORTS TO GET A CHAIR IN THE UNIVERSITY

 

Past History of the Subject Here. Senator Scripp's Bill for Support of a Chair.

 

Beginning the second semester in the college year 1891-92, due to the desire on the part of students for such study, and to the support of Prof. Francis W. Kelsey, of the Latin department, a full course in museum work in American Archaeology was offered at the University of Michigan under his general direction. Two students availed themselves of this opportunity and some of the laboratory work was done on Michigan material. Regular university credits were given both that year and the one following, but the course is no longer offered.

 

In 1893 and 1904, as a direct outgrowth of the interest in the course and the co-operation with the Univorsity, of the Detroit Branch of the Archaeological Institute of America, several surveys were made of the prehistoric earthworks known as "garden beds" near Kalamazoo. From this data one of the groups was modeled and copies were taken by the Peabody Museum and the American Museum of Natural History.

 

The Michigan Academy of Science was organized in the fall of 1894 and at the first meeting, December 26, the anthropology of the state was represented by a single paper by Harlan I Smith, on "The Data and Development of Michigan Archaeology." This paper was published in two parts, that referring to the data together with a note predicting a future activity on the part of the state in the preservation and study of its archaeological resources, appeared in the American Antiquarian, May, 1896. The second part referring to the development of Michigan archaeology was published simultaneously at the University In 'The Inlander." This paper not only plead for the subject but suggested a general plan of action particularly that the work be systematic and directed from some public institution as the State University where the results could be assembled for study and permanent free public exhibition, and that the antiquities of the state should be photographed, surveyed and plotted on a map.

 

At the winter meeting (1900) of the Anthropologists of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at Johns Hopkins University, December 28, 1900, a committee was appointed to transmit a suitable memorial to the people of Michigan in expression of its approval of the establishment of a survey and tendering its co-operation.

 

A memorial was prepared and transmitted to the Senate and House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Michigan.

 

Mr. Smith stated in the third report of the Michigan Academy of Science that should the bill pass it will be necessary to secure an archaeologist to direct the survey who not only has field experience and will avoid the pitfalls so often fatal to such undertakings, but who also can secure the re-establishment of anthropologic work on the University curriculum. The renewal of the course could be easily secured by offering a few lectures the first year, supplemented the second by laboratory work on the results of the survey. This plan would not only furnish material for the students to study, but would also further the interests of the survey by their preparation of its material. These students could later conduct special pieces of research in the field during the summer months and in the laboratory prepare the material and work up the matter for theses. The director should also give popular lectures throughout the State in order to develop a respect among the citizens for the subject which has now become a science and to give them instruction in it.

 

And also that should the bill fail to pass it is still significant that the matter should have reached this climax. With the large number of influential and thoughtful people now striving for this survey as part of a permanent anthropological institution in the State and the increased public interest which they have aroused, the subject has now a larger constituency in the State than ever before and with or without the survey the whole movement is one in advance.

 

Senator Scripps has introduced in the State Legislature a bill appropriating $1,500 for the establishment of a chair of American archaeology in the University for the survey of prehistoric remains in Michigan, an additional $1,500 to be secured from the Smithsonian Institution if the bill passes.

 

A resume of the bill is as follows:

 

Whereas, the State of Michigan is known to be one of the richest states in the Union, both in the number and variety of its prehistoric remains, and whereas, the march of improvement is rapidly obliterating these remains, much valuable knowledge of the ancient inhabitants of this continent is being lost to us, which by timely and careful study might be made available; the duty of the State is to take the matter in hand and see what can be done to preserve these archaeological remains.

 

To further this object, the bill, if passed, will empower the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan to create a chair of American Archaeology, if they so determine, in connection with this chair to conduct surveys of pre-historic remains in Michigan. In event of their undertaking this survey, $1,500 will be appropriated by the state for each of the years of 1903 and 1004 to defray the cost of the same.

 

The Board of Regents shall have authority, through any professor or agents which they may appoint, to enter any public or private property in the State for the purpose of conducting archaeological research.

 

The Board of Regents shall cause a report of these surveys to be made to the Legislature setting in the year 1905.

 

It shall be unlawful for anyone knowingly or willfully to destroy, deface, or obliterate any mine, mound, or garden bed or other relic of a pre-historic people, in the State, whether on public or private grounds

 

(From third report of the Michigan Academy of Science, 1901.)