Northwest History. Alaska. Eskimos.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1930
• Subjects: Eskimo race; T. B.; Alaska; Washington; Kuskokwim river; Dr. Ales Hrdlicka; department of physical anthropology; Smithsonian institution; anthropological data; aboriginal North American population; tuberculosis; Greenland; English; Asia; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Arctic; Pacific; eskimo*; Kuskokwim; Siberia
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/90791

Original Eskimo Race Discovered: But T. B. Fast Wiping Out Tribe Found In Alaska. ORIGINAL ESKIMO RACE DISCOVERED. ButT.B. Fast Wiping Out Tribe Found in Alaska. WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.—Dlscovery of the ancestral type of the Eskimo race still living unchanged the Kuskokwim river in southwestern Alaska is announced by Dr. Ales Hrdlieka, head of the department of physical anthropology of the Smithsonian institution. Dr. Hrdlieka has just returned bringing 60 cases of skeletons and a vast quantity of anthropological data. He believes he has found living representatives of the ancestors of one of the two major groups of the aboriginal North American population. Only 3000 Are Left. There are still about 3000 c'f these "original Eskimos" scattersd in small villages in the densely forested country along the river, Dr. Hrdilcka, says. Formerly the population was much greater, but for the last 70 years it has been heavily reduced by tuberculosis, introduced in the days of Russian occupation. Dr. Hrdlicka found approximately one-third of the population with tuberculosis in some form. Dr. Hrdlicka proceeded by boat fromm village to village, taking physical measurements and excavating ancient cemeteries. He found that the present population differed very little from the ancient population, probably the first human occupants of the area. Both dead and living were clearly Eskimos, not Indians, but without any of the exaggerated Eskimo characteristics found among tribes of arctic coast of North America and Greenland. Close To Original Type. Increasing evidence led Dr. Hrdlicka to the conclusion that these people were very clost to, if not absolutely identical with, the Eskimo ancestors who first migrated to North America from Siberia. The more America from Siberia. The more marked Eskimo characters, he believes, are evolutionary developments in a people forced into a difficult environment. Those who came to the Kuskokwim watershed found themselves in a comparatively friendly environment similar to that they had left in Alaska and where physical changes were not necessary to insure survival. Dr. Hrdlicka found these "original Eskimos" highly intelligent, energetic, friendly and happy. Most of their childrne speak English. Wherever Dr. Hrdlicka went crowds came to watch his excavations, point out old burial places and help with the heavy work.