The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-20
AN ANCIENT RACE
IS DUG FROM ICE
,,,nDEN CENTURIES UNDER ICE
FIELDS NORTH OF ALASKA
WIPED OUT BY CATASTROPHE

PHILADELPHIA. - Hidden for
centuries under the ice fields nor'n
- Alaska a scientific expedition
headed by William Van Vain OF tne
University of Pennsylvania, has dls-
oo,,orod the remains of prehistoric
arctic race. 1,o
This remarkable find includes the
fuIv clothed remains of no 1e"eI
than 100 individuals. who apparently
met sudden death in village OF 50
icloos. afterward covered by ice any
snow. where they renamed se"ieO
until the present time. -, an
The life. habits and physical aP-
nearance of this remarkable peoPie
boro little resemblance to the Eskl-
mo They were seemingly more near
1v related to the natives OF SIBERIA
and the scientists are proceeding on
+be theory that they constitute Ihe
Ionq-sought link between ASIA anu
America.
Northmost Tip.
The discovery was made near Point
Barrow, the northmost tip OF AlaSk "a
Mr.. Van Valin, head of the eXpeuie
tion. was sent out two and a nan
wears ago by the University OF rem
Svlyania to make an exhaustive STUDY
of the Eskimos. ,,o
He was investigating shallow
swaiI in search of Eskimo relics when
his attention was attracted by the
necuIiar character of some DEBRIS
This lead to still further investlga-
+ion. Buried beneath four feet of ice,
snow and tundra were uncovered
what was recognized at once as the
wreckage of a collection of ancient
hints or igIoos. They had been con-
structed of drift woods of various
kinds. covered with dome-shaped
roofs cut from the tundra, Inc
roofs had long since fallen in, while
LITTLE remains even of the sides OF
the huts.
The great discovery, however, was
made when the explorers came upon
the first of the frozen bodies. IN
MANY instances the positions OF the
bodies, all in perfect state of preser-
walton. frozen in solid blocks of ice,
suggested that death had overtakenl
them unexpectedly. Some had dled
in the act of drinking, at least that
is the supposition from the presence
in their hands of what appeared to
be long tubes, one end of which was
held between the lips.
Of the hundred or more bodies,
nearly all were fully attired: Many
were lying on beds of musk, often
under polar bear skins. The apparel
worn by some showed that the race
had learned to fabricate clothing
from the skins of birds and that they
also understood the art OF tanning or
curing skins of animals.
One thing seems certain. The COM
munity was overtaken by some sud
denly developing catastrophe.
Included among the bodies found
in a perfect state of preservation
were men, women and children OF all
ages. The clothing, furs and skins
were in perfect condition. Exposure
to the air, however, quickly caused
much of it to disintegrate. As re-
suit but few specimens of the cloth
ing are included in the collection
brought back by Mr.. Van Vain.
No Means of Preserving.
Unfortunately the fate which be
fell the skins and furs and birdskin
suits awaited the wearers as well.
Although when discovered many of
the bodies still retained their flesh
there was no means at the command
of Mr. Van Valin for preserving
them. But a few hours exposure to
warmer air was requied to cause the
fleshly portions to stuff away. For
tunately. however. the skeletons re-
main intact, perfectly articulated,
and within a very short time will be
in the university museum.
Many interesting and valuable
relics were discovered in the ruins OF
the six igloos Some idea of the
anomalous relationship between the
inhabitants and the Eskimo is sug-
gested by pieces of pottery found
amid the ruins. The Eskimo of to-
day uses soapstone utensils. No
trace of such utensils could be found
in the igloos.
Among the implements used by the
ancient race some are of similar con-
struction and shape as those used by
the Eskimos. Of particular interest
is the fact that jade was used by the
lost race. It must have been secured
from points as far as 500 miles away
INQUIRIES by Mr.. Van Vain among
the Eskimos proved that the latter
race had no traditions connected with
the inhabitants whose remains he had
discovered This IS taken to indl-
cate that the race must have disap-
peared centuries ago. for the Eski-
mos "ancient story" goes far back.