The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-02-11
ANCIENT RACE
DUG FROM ICE
Hidden for Centuries Under the
Ice Fields North of
Alaska.
WIPED OUT BY CATASTROPHE
Village of Six lqloos Discovered at
Northern Tip of Alaska by Van
Vain Expediton-Not Like
the Eskmos.

Philadelpha.-Hid for centuries
under the ice fields north of Alaska
scientific expedition, headed by Will
liam Van Vain of the University Of
Pennsylvania has discovered the re-
mains of prehistoric arctic race.
This remarkable find includes the
fully clothed remains of no fewer
than 100 individuals who apparently
met sudden death in a village of six
igloos, afterward covered by ice and
snow, where they remained sealed un-
til the present time.
The life, habits and physical ap-
pearance of this remarkable people
bore little resemblance to the Eski-
mo. They were seemingly more near
ly related to the natives of Siberia,
and the scientists are proceeding on
the theory that they constitute the
long-sought link between. Asia and
America.
Northernmost Tip.
The discovery was made near
Point Barrow, the northernmost tip
of Alaska. Mr. Van Vain, head of
the expedition, was sent out two and
half years ago by the University
of Pennsylvania to make an exhaus-
tive study of the Eskimos.
He was investigating a shallow
swail in search of Eskimo relics when
his attention was attracted by she
peculiar character of some debris.
This led to a still further examina-
tion. Buried beneath four feet of ice,
snow and tundra were uncovered
what was recognized at once as the
wreckage of a collection of ancient
huts, or igloes. They had been con-
structed of drift woods of various
kinds, covered with dome-shaped
roofs cut from the tundra. The 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 TIE positions Of the
bodies, all In perfect state OF preser-
walton, frozen in solid blocks Of ice,
suggested that death had overtaken
them Unexpectedly Some had died
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 cur
ing skins of animals
One thing seems certain. The COM
munity was overtaken by some sud-
denly developing catastrophe.
Included among the bodies found in
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 a result but
few specimens of the clothing are in
cluded in the collection brought back 1
by Mr.. Van Valn.
No Means of Preserving.
Unfortunately the fate which befell
the skins and furs and brdskin suits
awaited the wearers as well. Al
though when discovered many of the
bodies still retained their flesh there
was no means at the command Of
Mr.. Van Vain for preserving them.
But few hours exposure to warmer
air was required to cause the f1eshy \
portions to stuff away. Fortunately, j
however, the skeletons remain intact, !
perfectly articulated. and within a |
very short time will be in the Uni
versity museum.
Many interesting and valuable :
-elics were discovered in the ruins of
he six igloos. Some idea of the
anomalous relationship between the
inhabitants and the Eskimo is sug-
rested by pieces of pottery found Z
mid the ruins. The Eskimo Of to- 4
lay uses soapstOne utensils. No r
race of such utensils could be found Z
q the igloos.
Among the implements used by the
ncient race some are of similar con- *
truction and shape as those used by =
he Eskimos. OF particular interest
, the fact that jade was used by the NJ
,st race. 1t must have been secured II
rom points as far as 500 miles away. =
Inquiries by Mr.. Van Vain among
le Eskimos proved that the latter d
ace had no traditions connected with n
le inhabitants whose remains he had 8
This is taken to inNi-
ate that the race must have dis NJ
ppeared centuries ago. for the EsKi- II
os ancient story" goes far back. 81