hrdi-iOka] SUMMARY 363 



man's manufacture (copper, iron, beads); lower layers are wholly 

 aboriginal. Indian artifacts occur in Eskimo sites only in the 

 proximity of the Indian on the rivers. 



7. The prevalent or later culture shown by the remains is fairly 

 rich, of good to relatively rather high grade, and of considerable uni- 

 formity. There are numerous indications of extensive trade in 

 various articles, particularly those of the Kobuk "jade." 



8. On the Asiatic coast, in the northern parts of the Bering Sea. 

 on the Seward Peninsula, in the Kotzebue region and at Point Hope, 

 the deeper portions of the remains give examples of the higher 

 and richer " fossil ivory culture." This is distinguished by many 

 objects of high-class workmanship, and by curvilinear to scroll de- 

 signs. The art appears to have distinct affinities with, on one hand, 

 deeper Asia, and on the other with the northwest coast of America 

 and even farther south. It is not clearly separated from either the 

 contemporaneous or the later Eskimo art, yet it is of a higher grade 

 and delicacy and much distinctiveness. It is not yet known where 

 this art begins geographically, what preceded it, whence it was 

 derived, just how far it reached along the coasts, or even what was 

 its main center. It seems best for the present to reserve to it the 

 name of the " fossil ivory art " (rather than Jenness's too limiting 

 " Bering Sea culture "), and to defer all conclusions concerning it to 

 the future. 



9. It seems justifiable, however, to point to the significance of what 

 is already known. This " fossil ivory art " especially, but also the 

 general culture of the western Eskimo, are highly developed and 

 differentiated cultures, denoting considerable cultural background, 

 extended duration, and conditions generally favorable to industrial 

 and artistic developments. It has, it is already ascertained, cer- 

 tain affinities in Asia. If this art and the attending culture were 

 advancing toward America, as seems most probable, then the ques- 

 tion of cultural influences and introductions from Asia to America 

 will have to be reopened. 



10. Due to the perpetually frozen ground and the consequent 

 necessity of surface burials, the area of the western Eskimo was. 

 until recently, relatively rich in skeletal remains lying on the sur- 

 face. It is no more so now, due to storms, beasts, missionaries, 

 teachers, and scientific collectors. But while only a scattering re- 

 mains of the surface material, there is much and that of special 

 importance lying in the ground, mostly self-buried or assimilated by 

 the tundra. This material, which now and then is accompanied by 

 interesting archeological specimens, calls for prompt attention; it 

 will help greatly in clearing local and other problems. 



