Sciences

1900 — Beirut, Damascus, Hama, Bhamdoun: 28 February 1900 - June 1901. Lot of 5 manuscript letters written and signed by Harvard anthropologist Henry Minor Huxley, concerning anthropological work performed for the Howard Crosby Butler Archaeological Expedition to the Middle East, as well as a noteworthy archaeological discovery of an ancient and curious stone inscription, its location guarded with secrecy by the few expedition members having this knowledge. 8vo. double-leafs varying in size. 24 pages combined, each letter signed in the original. Two letters are on hotel stationery. Occasional light creasing, otherwise in very good condition, clean and bright, a fascinating and candid primary source account. Writing to a trusted source, his mother, Huxley's reveals the discovery of an ancient inscription carved into an overturned stone, in a language possibly not yet identified, stating that he took the first photograph of it, and that only a select few expedition members are privy to knowing its location. His commentary on experiences with the local civilians and officials are straightforward and occasionally blunt. Henry Minor Huxley, A.M. accepted the offer to join the American Archaeological Expedition led by American archaeologist Howard Crosby Butler. The first part of the archaeological work took place from mid-October to mid-December 1899, and a second trip was made for continued work from March to June, 1900. In the summer of 1900, he was devoted to acquiring a working knowledge of the vernacular Arabic. Huxley's work, however, involved a broader scope. During this second trip, he was also tasked with the study of physical anthropology, as is apparent in the present correspondence. This work proved so valuable that Huxley, owing to the patronage of New York businessman and archeological enthusiast B.T. Babbitt Hyde, remained for another year to further these anthropological observations, independently. What does not appear to be officially documented in publications, but is highly fascinating, is what Huxley writes in his last letter of the present lot. That is, in June 1901, just prior to returning to America, he alone returned to the site of a stone inscription discovered during the earlier part of the expedition (presumably in 1899), to copy it, photograph it, and turn it back face down so that no others would see it. This would increase the likelihood that he and one other would have a better chance of being the first to decipher it.