14 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 
sons were a relative scarcity of the population in the 
northeastern parts of Asia, on account of the limited 
resources of that region; the more or less nomadic habits 
of the people, due to seasonal conditions and the shifting 
food supply; their dependence on the sea and rivers for 
both food and movement, the hinterland being poor in 
resources and not favorable for migrations toward more 
desirable regions. 
Old Eskimo sites—Older abandoned sites of the 
Eskimo, from those of small camps with perhaps only 
two or three ‘‘ igloos ’’ to good-sized dead villages, are 
quite common. They occur as a rule on, or just above, 
the low ‘‘ spits ’’ and beaches of the sea and on the banks 
of the rivers or lakes. 
The Teller battle field—This consists merely of a 
tundra plain, dotted with small lagoons. In its vicinity 
are at least two, and probably more, small old sites, with 
their graves for the most part already assimilated by the 
tundra. The plain itself shows, as far as seen, nothing 
but moss and other similar vegetation. 
The archeological objects that it was possible to secure 
show: (1) Contact with Asia; (2) two varieties of deco- 
ration, rectilinear and curvilinear, the latter much su- 
perior to the former; (3) extensive trading (“‘ jade,”’ 
slate, obsidian); (4) a great differentiation and variety 
in places, indicating a rather high culture. 
This survey of conditions in the northwestern part of 
Alaska indicates the need of prompt work of archeologi- 
cal and anthropological nature in several directions. 
Dr. Walter Hough, head curator of anthropology, 
United States National Museum, was detailed to examine 
recent excavations at Indian Mound, Tenn., reported by 
the Hon. Joseph W. Byrns. In the town of Indian 
Mound is a large burial mound, from which the place 
derives its name. The mound is much lowered by culti- 
vation, some of the older settlers affirming that it was 
several feet higher than at present. 
