The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-28
ORIGIN OF AMERICAN indian
to Prove Red Man Imni-
grated From Northeastern Siberia.

A problem of much interest, and of
late good deal before the public, is
that of the origin of the American
aborigine. in other words, the native
Indian. In this connection the recent
Investigations of DR.. Ales Hrdlicka,
curator of physical anthropology, ma
t1onal museum, tend to prove that the
native American immigrated to this
country in a postglacial period, and
is a representative of the overflow
from northeastern Siberia, where he
is closely related both mentally and
physically to the yellow-brown peoples
of Asia and Polynesia.
Among the interesting sites explored
by Dr.. Hrdlicka are the burial
mounds, or "kourgans," as they are
called, located on the banks of the
Yenisei and Selenga rivers and their
tributaries. and along the streams of
northern Mongolia, especially on the
banks of the Kerulen.
Oddly enough the date of the
mounds is established quite as readily
as if the date of construction were
carved on a stone, for the different
per. iron, bronze or stone, identify the
origin Of the particular mound from
which they came as falling within
definite time limits. Most of the
1y recent times, corresponding to
Ugrian or Turk or Tartar elements,
as well as modern Monaghan. The
skulls of the skeletons taken from
THESE more recent II1OuHOS are Ol the
brachycephalic type, short, somewhat
spherical skulls, which occasionally
closely resemble the same form OF
American crania, but the "kourgans"
of earlier date, containing no metal
objects, yield skulls reSem bling the do
lchocephalic type, long and narrow,
and much like American Indian skulls
of this type.
1t is difficult to assert to just what
race the older skeletons and skulls
belong, and yet, on the banks of the
lower Yenisei river, and in several
other localities, living dolichocephalic
types are not unusual, and such ma
tives frequently bear strong physical
resemblance to our native Indians.
Further burial spots are known to be
located in caverns among the noun
tains bordering the Yenisei river,
which, however, DR.. Hrdlicka was not
able to investigate.
The most important part of the ex-
pIoration and study was that pertain
ing to the living descendants of the old
races. Among these people the in
vestigator was fortunate enough to
come into contact with representatives
of many tribes from the banks of the
Yenisei and Abacan rivers, also
Buriats, Mongolians, Tibetans, Chi
nese and some Manchurians. He was
happily present at a great religious
ceremony at the Lamaist monasteries
1000 Mongolians from all parts of the
country were in attendance.
Among all these tribes and clans
there were individuals who apparently
represent the older population, pre-
Monaghan and pre-Chinese, and who |
belong partly to the brachycephalic
type, though in a smaller extent to the
do1ichocephalic type. These men and
women are practically identical with
the American Indians of similar head |
form. The particular individuals are
brown in color, with straight black
hair, dark brown eyes and facial and |
bodily features which are Strikingly |
like those of the native American The |
men are practically beardless. Some !
of these people, if dressed in the cos |
tunes and rega1ia of an Indian, and |
placed among them, could not be dis |
from them. At least DR..
Hrdlicka states that there are no
means at the disposal of the anthro-
pologist by which to make such a dis
tinction. 1t is not only in outward |
that these natives of ST.
IBERIA resem BILE the Indians, but men
tally as well, and in numerous habits
and customs which different environ
ment and time seem not to have eff
American.