ANTHROPOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS ON KODIAK 



ISLAND, ALASKA 



By ALES HRDLICKA 

 Curator of Physical Anthropology, U. S. National Museum 



Anthropological and archeological research on Kodiak Island, 

 Alaska, was carried on by the writer throughout the summer of 1932. 

 The work consisted in excavations at one important site in Uyak Bay ; 

 in trial excavations at Chief's Point and other sites ; in an archeo- 

 logical survey of the whole island ; and in securing measurements and 

 photographs of the few remaining fullbloods on the island. 



The expedition received substantial aid from the Alaska Packers 

 Association and their officials and men at the Larsen Bay Cannery ; 

 from the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries ; from the officers and airplane men 

 of the U. S. S. Gannet, Alaska Survey Expedition ; and from the offi- 

 cials and captains of the Pacific Steamship Co. — all of which is hereby 

 gratefully acknowledged. Especial thanks are due also to the many 

 individuals, who cannot be listed in this brief article, all of whom 

 rendered valuable assistance. Through the generosity of Mrs. Charles 

 D. Walcott the expedition obtained a small boat with an outboard 

 motor, which proved very valuable. 



The excavation at the Uyak Bay site progressed so substantially 

 that approximately one fifth of the area covered by the main deposits 

 and estimated at two acres has been cleared. The accumulations in 

 the main part reach from 8 to 15 feet in depth, ranging mostly between 

 9 and 12 feet. Excavation of these deposits was carried on throughout 

 to the glacial bed-ground, consisting of greenish glacial sand, gravel, 

 and boulders. Stone and bone implements were found at all levels and 

 in all the deposits. 



Skeletal remains occur mostly in three ill-segregated strata, the 

 low or deep, the intermediary, and the upper or superficial. The deep 

 remains are partly disseminated individual bones, some broken for 

 the marrow and a few showing localized marks of fire ; and partly 

 regular individual burials. In a few instances the bones of only a 

 portion of the body were interred, but mostly there were the com- 

 plete skeletons. Some burials were more than 12 feet in depth, and 

 most of the deepest were laid in hollows, up to 2 feet deep, made in 

 the glacial bed pan. All were in the contracted position and the skull 

 lay generally on its side. Near them were buried as a rule some cul- 

 tural articles, such as bone points, slate knives, or a lamp or two. Re- 

 peatedly in these and also in the intermediate layers, two lamps, differ- 



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