The University of Michigan Philippine Expedition

EARLY a decade ago, the late Dean C. Worcester encountered fragments of Asiatic ceramics in caves and burial grounds in several localities in the Visayan group of the Philippine Islands. Largely as a result of his recommendations the University of Michigan organized an expedition to conduct “anthropological explorations in the Philippine Islands.” The field work, which covered a period of three years was completed during the past summer. It seems appropriate, a t this time, to give a preliminary statement of the conduct and collections of the expedition. In view of the fact that most interest was displayed in the intrusive Asiatic ceramics, this material was made the particular subject of the work. The original intention had been to explore the entire archipelago with reference to various forms of prehistoric burial. Practical difficulties, such as transportation and location of material, made i t necessary to restrict the area to include only the southern half of it, i.e., those islands lying to the south of the thirteenth parallel of latitude. This includes all of the Visayas, Mindanao, and the Sulu group. Because of Mr. Worcester’s hospitality, the headquarters of the expedition were located a t the Opon mill of the Philippine Refining corporation, on the island of Mactan. This is across the channel from Cebu, one of the principal cities of the Philippines, in the very heart of the Visayan area. An entire house was given as a laboratory for the work, to which collections were brought, and where they were sorted, catalogued and packed. Mr. Worcester placed his yacht, the Anne W . Day, a seventy-five foot schooner with auxiliary engines, a t the disposal of the expedition, thus giving it control of its own means of transportation. When conditions warranted, explorations could, thereby, be conducted in localities not ordinarily reached by the usual inter-island steamers. In the course of three years of field work twenty trips N