Abstract
REFERENCE has already been made (NATURE, April 5, p. 413) to the first part of a description by Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, curator of physical anthropology in the U.S. National Museum, of investigations, undertaken in mummy caves and rock shelters in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska (Scientific Monthly, Jan.-Feb. 1941). It would appear that the aboriginal inhabitants were at some unknown period replaced by the Aleuts, among whom, comparatively lately, Russian penetration took place. The Aleuts practised mummifying, though whether they began to do so after their arrival in the islands, or whether they brought the custom with them from their unknown place of origin remains a mystery. The mummies of both sexes were stored in the caves, lying upon driftwood, and differences of physical anthropology among them suggest that a few members of the pre-Aleut people had been allowed to survive, perhaps in a condition of slavery. Thei finding of one or two objects of Russian origin with some of the mummies seems to indicate that the practice continued until a fairly recent date. A certain amount of cremation also appears to liave—been customary, and interesting and well-developed industries showing some degree of artistry were collected. The difficulties under which the expedition, worked were very considerable, but nevertheless, much valuable information has been added to our knowledge of these interesting peoples.
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Mummification in America. Nature 147, 707 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1038/147707b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/147707b0