iiuDi.MJKA] ARCHEOLOGY OF CENTRAL ALASKA 145 



of population in the lower and middle Yukon River Valley, Doctor 

 Hrdlirka has extended the northern archeological horizon into the 

 sub- Arctic. 



" Of the many sites examined, the old village site at Bonasila, 18 

 miles below the confluence of the Anvik and Yukon Rivers, yielded 

 the most interesting data. Crudely flaked implements of trap rock 

 with cutting edges showing evidence of chipping and grinding were, 

 uncovered. These implements are unique among Alaskan artifacts 

 and have no relationship with known types of Eskimo or Indian 

 stonework. In the shaping technic employed by their aboriginal 

 makers: in form, and in type: and. generally, in their undeveloped 

 character, the stone artifacts from Bonasila and other ancient arche- 

 ological sites on the middle Yukon may be classified as primitive 

 neolithic. 



"The stone implements uncovered at Bonasila are so crudely fash- 

 ioned and are apparently of such an improvised nature as to sug- 

 gest an extreme conservatism in culture development, or perhaps a 

 degeneration, due largely to lack of better materials. Due to the 

 lack of basalt, jadeite, or other hard stone in the valley of the lower 

 middle Yukon, recourse was had to sandstone and trap rock by the 

 primitive makers of stone axes and celts. 



" Crude pottery vessels and potsherds were discovered associated 

 with the objects of stone. This ware incorporates elementary dec- 

 orative designs distinct from the known historic Eskimo or Indian 

 types of pottery decoration. There can be no intimation that this 

 ware is archaic or that it belongs to any archaic culture offshoot 

 from farther south. It therefore becomes a question of some un- 

 known earlier Asiatic culture connection that manifested itself in 

 crude forms of flaked and ground stone implements and in unique 

 potteiy forms. It is uncertain that the ancient fossil ivory culture 

 of northwest Alaska, of which Doctor Hrdlicka has brought in some 

 excellent examples, is in any manner associated with the primitive 

 neolithic stone and pottery forms uncovered at Bonasila. It is 

 established, however, beyond a doubt that both cultures and types of 

 artifacts are Asiatic in origin and have little or no connection with 

 the culture of the western Eskimo. 



" The Eskimos of the lower Yukon Valley made extensive use of 

 slate and of jadeite in the production of their polished knives and 

 celts. Slate knives and polished celts of jadeite are characteristic of 

 Eskimoan culture throughout the whole of its extent in Alaska. 

 Each of these materials as well as the finished products shaped from 

 them were subjects of native barter. Eskimos often undertook long 

 journeys for their procurement. It is therefore noteworthy that no 



