Archaeological Expedition.

Preparations are being completed for a new archaeological expedition to Central America, and the exploration of ruined cities in that region, begun by the Museum several years ago, will be renewed on a somewhat different plan and a more extensive scale.

Mr. Gordon, who takes charge of the expedition, will leave Cambridge about the end of November, proceeding first to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, to open negotiations with the government for a new concession, the edict under which the work of the former expeditions was carried on having been withdrawn.

Copan will be the objective point of the expedition, and Mr. Gordon's party will join him there later in the season. It is intended to excavate the larger temples, and to copy by means of impressions or moulds the inscriptions and sculptured decorations on the walls, tablets and altars, which will be brought to light. An experienced moulder will form one of the party in the field.

The plan which Mr. Gordon has proposed and which has been adopted by the Museum, involves the purchase of a tract of land adjoining the ruins in the Copan valley and comprising several thousand acres, and the building of a house thereon to serve as headquarters for exploration from year to year. The runs will furnish an abundant supply of building stone ready at hand, and the forests of pine, cedar and mahogany growing on the land will afford a supply of building material which will be found convenient, in the absence of facilities for transportation.

The expedition will probably remain in the field during the greater part of the coming year.