The Significance of Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Inland Alaska

Extract

Inland Alaska is undoubtedly one of the most discouraging areas for archaeological research in North America. But the fascinating theory of human migrations via Bering Strait has led several of us to search this critical territory of boreal forest and tundra for material evidence of the theory. Sites and collections of implements discovered so far are ridiculously small and scattered considering the size of the territory, yet as a while they may be significant.” I shall present here my own conclusions on the present significance of these materials—conclusions which reflect discussions with Giddings and Larsen but which do not convict them.

Reviewing what has been done in this field during the post-war years I cannot escape the conclusion that there is as yet no evidence whatever for the hypothetic migrations of men from Asia via the Bering Strait region during the Neolithic period, that is in the European sense of the term.