Introduction [excerpts] This thesis is a historical study of Charles Rau, a curator of archaeology at the National Museum of Natural History, and his archaeological excavation of the Keyport shell heaps. The purpose of this thesis is to examine Rau's role in the history of American archaeology and examine his excavations at the shell heaps in their historical contenxt. While Rau was widely known during his life, it appears that the perceived importance of his work has diminished over the years among historians...