THE ANCIENT AND MODERN INHABITANTS OF 

 THE YUKON 



By ales HRDLICKA, 



Curator, Division of Physical Anthropology, U . S. National Museum 



A full season of anthropological work along the Yukon River, 

 from practically its inception to its two northern mouths, was made 

 possible in 1929 through grants by the Smithsonian Institution and 

 the Bureau of American Ethnology, supplemented by a grant from 

 the Joseph Henry Fund of the National Academy of Sciences and a 

 contribution from the Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. The work 

 along the upper third of the river, from White Horse to Fort Yukon, 

 was restricted to mere observations ; but from Fort Yukon downward 

 intensive research was carried out both on the living Indians and 

 Eskimo, and on the old sites and burials. The work was a material 

 extension of that of 1926,' and resulted in the detailed examination 

 and measurements of approximately 200 full-blood natives — in some 

 places comprising all that remain ; in the making of over 400 photo- 

 graphs and 15 facial casts: and in the collecting of 60 boxes of 

 anthropological and archeological specimens. As in 1926 so during 

 the present journey much kind and generous assistance and hos- 

 pitality was received from the people along the river, both whites and 

 natives. To mention them individually would be impossible ; they can 

 only be thanked collectively.^ Thanks, also, are due to Dr. George 



' Smithsonian Misc. Coll., Vol. 78, No. 7, pp. 137-158, 1927. 



^ Especially grateful acknowledgment is, however, due to Bishop P. T. Rowe, 

 Head of the Episcopahan Missions in Alaska ; to Dr. and Mrs. Grafton Burke, 

 in charge of the Hospital and Mission at Fort Yukon ; to Deaconess H. M. 

 Beddle, in charge of the Mission at Tanana ; to Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Chapman, 

 in charge of the Mission at Anvik ; to Father Superior P. I. Delon and to 

 Fathers Cunningham, Lachessi and others at the Holy Cross Mission; to Mr. 

 X'olney Richmond, President of the Northern Commercial Co. and his agents; 

 to Chris Betsch at Russian Mission, a staunch old friend of the histitution, and to 

 Messrs. Keir and Bishop, in charge of his stores ; to Harry Lawrence at Anvik 

 and Jim Walker at Ghost Creek ; to Deputy Marshal Johnson, at Marshall ; to 

 Mr. and Mrs. Fred Watson, the tradjers, and Mr. and Mrs. McClung, the 

 teachers, at Pilot Station ; to the authorities of the Alaska Railroad and the 

 Captains and other officers of their steamers ; and last but by no means least 

 to \{r. and Mrs. Calvin F. Townsend, our hosts for two weeks on the Coot, 

 the fine new boat of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries on the Yukon. Thanks are 

 further hereby extended to the U. S. Geological Survey for the loan of a launch, 

 which proved of great value to the expedition; and to the L^ S. Bureau of Educa- 

 tion, for its kind cooperation. 



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