Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-03
Stars, Men and Atoms
Ancient Implements Link
Eskimos With Cobb PEOPLE
Ancestry Can Be Traced From Alaska
Back Through Siberia to Origin
By Thomas X. Henry

Traces of an ancient stone age culture at
Cape Denbigh on Norton Sound Alaska,
which may constitute one Of the most i'm.
portant finds yet made in Arctic archaeology,
have just been reported to the Arctic Institute
of North America.
1t was made this summer by DR.. ]. L. Gid
dings Of the University of Alaska, working
under an Institute grant If thoroughly SUBJ
stantiated by later work, according to Dr.
Henry B. Collins of the Smithsonian Institu.
ton, chairman of the Institute, it may be a
link between the present-day Eskimos and
remote ancestors of Inner Mongolias Cobb
Desert
Glddlngs discovery Is Of layer of very
small stone implements, obviously of human
manufacture. They apparently were used by
the ancient migrants as knives and skin
Scrapers Of some sort. Above them in sue.
cessive strata, were evidences of later levels
of Eskimo culture Well-known to archeologists.
Immediately above them we're artifacts of the
so-cailed Old Boring Sea and Ipintsk cultures,
hitherto representing the oldest traces of the
Eskimo in this region.
Similar Implements Found in Cobb.
Similar fine stone implements have been
found in the Cobb. There also have been in
Interpretation is very difficult, Dr. Collins
says. and further discoveries are greatly needed.
The Eskimo, like the Indian, is known to have
originated in Asia and presumably was a rela-
lively late migrant to the western hemisphere.
DR.. Collins own researches have traced the
precursors of this extraordinary race back as
far as Lake Bakal in Siberia where artifacts
similar to those of Alaskas Old Boring Sea
and Ipintak cultures have been found. It Is
by no means an improbable jump from Baikal
to the Cobb, he says.
An open water lake more than IS miles long
in the interior of East Greenland has just been
reported to the Arctic Institute of North Amer.
lea.
1t was seen from the air by Danish expe-
dition engaged for the past two summers in
mapping the interior of the northeast section
OF the great Arctic island. Led by the Danish
explorers Ebbe Munck and Eigil Knuth, the
expedition based at independence ford. slightly
north of latitude 49, and made series of
inland flights over the great icecap.
The Danes propose an extensive survey. both
by air and land Journeys, of the interior OF
Peary Land, northernmost portion of Green
land and the nearest land to the North Pole.
which was discovered by Admiral Robert E.
of Greenland by narrow strait.
Interior Is Mystery.
The interior of this farthest north land still
is largely mystery AS Arctic lands go, it is
far from an inhosptable place. During the
brief summers there are lush pastures with
large herds of musk-ox and the place becomes
riot of color when the flowers bloom in the
fleeing spring.
The Danish explorers plan thorough study
of the plants animals and meteorological con.
ditions in this area. The land is unquestion-
ably Danish territory. Whatever vague Amer
lean claim may have been established by
Pearys discovery was renowned when the
United States purchased from Denmark the
Virgin Islands The possibilities of "Shangri-
las in this country are far from exhausted
Danish interest in Greenland is taking new
turn. The present population of the island is
about $4,000 Danes and Eskimos living in IT'S
widely scattered settlements Plans are being
considered for the building of three or four
modern towns with fully modern electricity
and sewerage. where centers of administration
will be established