gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, Maya

Funded and organized by Tulane University, the 1925 expedition aimed to document the archaeology, ethnology, and languages of the indigenous populations in southern Mexico (particularly Chiapas and the Yucatán peninsula) and a short portion of Guatemala. The two-volume work features detailed notes, maps, and photographs documenting Mayan ruins, indigenous settlements, and local material culture (such as textiles, ceramics, and daily items). The books are recognized for successfully bridging the gap between early archaeological mapping and modern ethnological observation.