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Digging a Pre-historical Site at
Hsi-yin-t'sun.

The pre-historical site at Hsi-yin-t'sun was discovered on March 24, 1926, while I was on the way with Mr. Yuan of the Geological Survey to visit the tombs of the Emperors of the Hsia Dynasty. In my report of this trip, I said:-

".......But something turned out rather unexpectedly while on our way to visit the tombs of the Emperors of the Hsia Dynasty. It was after riding thru the village, Hsi-yin-t'sun, suddenly a large field of pre-historical pottery shards was discovered. Mr. Yuan was the first to see it. The site extended to several mous of land. It is apparently a larger site that we found at Chiao-t'ou-ho; and the content is somewhat different too........" (P. 18.)

After seeing this report, Mr. C. W. Bishop as well as Mr. Y. ,S. Tsao and Mr. Y. C. Mei, respectively President and Dean of Tsing Hua College all urged me to organize an archaeological party to do some more intensive work in Southern Shansi. The work could have started much earlier, if it were not for my serious illness in the spring. Not till the fall season began did my health warrant me to go out again. Nothing more satisfactory could be expected of our start. Besides the hearty support of the two eminent institutions, the Freer Gallery of Art and the Tsing Hua Research Institue, all friends in Peking who are interested in Archaeology did their best to help this expedition. With much sympathy and great courtesy, Dr. W.H. Wong consented to lend to this expedition the service of Mr. P. L. Yuan, who, at the time, already received important appointment from the Government to do surveying work in Kiangsi. Two ex-premiers, His Excellency, Mr. Hsiung Hsi-ling, and His Excellency, Mr. W. W. Yen favored us with letters of introduction to the Governor of Shansi.

Nevertheless I was much worried about our prospect at that


[[stamp]] FREER GALLERY OF ART [[/stamp]]