SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, \<}2J I55 



Nunivak Island is 70 miles long and about 45 miles wide, but there 

 are no dependable charts of its shores except for two restricted locali- 

 ties. The eastern and central parts of the island are rather flat except 

 for a few isolated mountains of no great height. To the west, however, 

 there is a gradual rise and the shore line is rugged and precipitous. 



While very little was definitely known of them, the Nunivak Es- 

 kimo have long been regarded as the most primitive in this remote 

 region. This we found to be true. Women were found still wearing 

 the lip, ear and nose ornaments of beads and walrus ivory that were 

 given up years ago by the other Eskimo of western Alaska. The 

 elaborate observances and ceremonies relating to the hunting of the 

 seal and their social and religious life in general, furnish additional 

 evidence of the extreme conservatism of these people. 



Our first work at Nash Harbor was to take measurements and 

 physiological observations on the natives. We then explored on foot 

 much of the western end of the Island, collecting bones and ethno- 

 logical material from several deserted villages and finally from the vil- 

 lage at Nash Harbor. Elaving completed the work at the western end 

 of Nunivak, we moved on to Amolowikimiut. a native village at Cape 

 Etolin some thirty miles to the east. Work here was continued as 

 before, and was greatly facilitated by the intelligent cooperation of 

 Mr. Paul Ivanoff, the native trader. 



In August we left Nunivak, Mr. Stewart going to St. Michael with 

 the trader from Tanunuk village, Nelson Island, while I followed 

 shortly afterwards with the Ivanofif family. A stop was made at 

 Hooper Bay, a very interesting" Eskimo village on the mainland be- 

 tween Nunivak and the Yukon, and additional collections and anthro- 

 pometric data were secured. From St. Michael the outward trip was 

 made up the Yukon to Nenana, and thence to the coast to Seward, 

 affording an opportunity to observe the Eskimo along the lower 

 Yukon and later the Athapascan Indians further up the river. 



As a result of the summer's work there were collected several 

 hundred skulls with numerous skeletons, while measurements were 

 taken of some 180 living Eskimo. The measurements on the living- 

 are the first to be made in western Alaska, and these together with 

 the skeletal remains will furnish the first adequate knowledge of the 

 physical type of this little known region. 



It would be impossible to mention the names of all to whom we 

 are indebted for assistance. Particular thanks, however, are due to 

 Dr. William Hamilton of the Alaska Division of the Bureau of Edu- 

 cation, Washington, D. C. ; Mr. Jonathan H. Wagner, Chief of the 



