Periods of Prehistoric Art in the Aleutian Islands

• Published in: American Antiquity
• Main Author: Quimby, George I.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1945
• Subjects: Museology; Archeology; Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous); History; aleut; Amaknak; eskimo*; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/275652; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0002731600030730

The intent of this paper is to present the hypothesis that there are at least two discernible periods of prehistoric Aleut art; one early, the other late. Most designs of the early period somewhat resemble those of the Dorset Eskimo in the East. The art of the late period is suggestive of Punuk Eskimo in northern Alaska. The formulation of these two periods is based upon an examination of decorated artifacts from the “D” site on the southwestern coast of Amaknak Island (Dutch Harbor, Alaska). These artifacts are part of a large collection donated to the Chicago Natural History Museum by Lt. Alvin R. Cahn, U.S.N.R.