Skeletal Remains of the Yukon
The first Yukon Indian skull measured was that of a half-chief of the Nulato group, collected in the early sixties by William H. Dall. There are now three records of this skull, originally and again now a Smithsonian specimen, one in Wyman ("Observations on Crania," Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1868, XI, 452, No. 7530), one in the Otis "Catalogue" (35, No. 259), and one in Hrdlička's "Catalogue of Human Crania in the United States National Museum Collections" (p. 30, No. 242925). It is a normal, well-developed male skull, which gives no suggestion of mixture. The true measurements of this "type" specimen, taken by present-day instruments and methods, are as follows:
| Vault: | ||
| Length | cm | 18.4 |
| Breadth | cm | 14 |
| Height to bregma | cm | 13.8 |
| Cranial index | 76.1 | |
| Mean height index | 85.2 | |
| Height-breadth index | 98.6 | |
| Cranial module (mean diameter) | cm | 15.40 |
| Cranial capacity | c. c. | 1,520 |
| Face: | ||
| Menton-nasion (teeth but slightly worn) | cm | 12.1 |
| Alveolar point-nasion | cm | 7.3 |
| Diameter bizygomatic maximum | cm | 14 |
| Facial index, total | 86.4 | |
| Facial index, upper | 52.1 | |
| Facial angle | 69° | |
| Alveolar angle | 53.5° | |
| Orbits: | ||
| Right— | ||
| Height | cm | 3.25 |
| Breadth | cm | 4.2 |
| Left— | ||
| Height | cm | 3.45 |
| Breadth | cm | 4 |
| Mean index | 81 | |
| Nose: | ||
| Height | cm | 5.1 |
| Breadth | cm | 2.5 |
| Index | 49 | |
| Upper alveolar arch: | ||
| Length | cm | 5.7 |
| Breadth | cm | 6.7 |
| Index | 85.1 | |
| Basio-facial diameters: | ||
| Basion-alveolar point | cm | 10.6 |
| Basion-subnasal point | cm | 9.4 |
| Basal-nasion | cm | 10.5 |
The skull is seen to be mesocephalic, rather high, and of good brain capacity; the face is of medium Indian proportions; the orbits are unequal, rather low; the nose is of medium height and breadth; the upper dental arch, the basic-facial diameters, and the facial and alveolar angles, are all near medium Indian.
There was another Indian skull in the five Wyman reported, but its identity is uncertain. A later collection by Dall included three Indian female crania from Alaska, but their exact provenience is uncertain; their measurements are given in my catalogue.
On the 1926 trip I succeeded in collecting directly from the burials along the lower middle Yukon 17 adult skulls and skeletons. Such material is both scarce and difficult to obtain, due to the attitude of the Indians. All the specimens in the collection are from the Russian times on the river. A few of the skulls show traces of Eskimoid in their features, but none offer a suspicion of a mixture with the whites. The measurements are given below. They partly agree, partly disagree, with those of the Nulato skull. The vault, the breadth of the nose, the dimensions of the dental arch, are much alike, but the height of the face, nose, and orbits in the Nulato specimen is somewhat lower. These may be tribal but also simply individual differences. We may generalize by stating that the lower middle Yukon Indian was mesocephalic, with a fairly high vault, and moderate capacity. The face was of relatively good height but moderate breadth, resulting in a high upper facial index. Facial and alveolar prognathism and other features approach the prevalent Indian medium.
| SEX: MALE | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalogue No. | Collection | Locality | Approximate age of subject | Vault: Diameter antero-posterior maximum (glabella ad maximum) | Diameter lateral maximum | Basion-bregma height | Cranial index | Mean height index | Height-breadth index | Cranial module | Capacity, in c. c. (Hrdlička's method) |
| 332512 | A. Hrdlička | Magi (Bonasila) | Adults | 18.4 | 13.8 | 14.0 | 75.0 | 87.0 | 101.4 | 15.40 | 1,480 |
| 332517 | do | Ghost Creek, near Holy Cross. | do | 18.1 | 13.8 | 13.4 | 76.2 | 83.8 | 97.1 | 15.10 | 1,375 |
| 332514 | do | do | do | 18.0 | 13.9 | 14.0 | 77.2 | 87.5 | 100.7 | 15.30 | 1,425 |
| 332503 | do | Greyling River (above Anvik). | do | [28](17.3) | (13.4) | (12.7) | 77.5 | 82.5 | 94.8 | (14.47) | (1,220) |
| 332507 | do | Ghost Creek | do | 18.2 | 14.1 | 13.2 | 77.5 | 81.5 | 93.6 | 15.17 | 1,480 |
| 332526 | do | do | do | 18.5 | 14.4 | 13.7 | 77.8 | 83.5 | 95.1 | 15.53 | |
| 339752 | H. W. Krieger | do | do | 17.5 | 13.9 | 13.5 | 79.4 | 86.0 | 97.1 | 14.97 | 1,515 |
| 332502 | A. Hrdlička | do | do | 17.8 | 14.2 | 13.3 | 79.8 | 83.1 | 93.7 | 15.10 | 1,370 |
| (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (6) | ||||
| Total | 126.5 | 98.1 | 95.1 | 106.57 | 8,645 | ||||||
| Average | 18.07 | 14.01 | 13.59 | 77.5 | 84.7 | 96.9 | 15.22 | 1,441 | |||
| Minimum | 17.5 | 13.8 | 13.2 | 75.0 | 81.5 | 93.6 | 14.97 | 1,370 | |||
| Maximum | 18.5 | 14.4 | 14.0 | 79.8 | 87.5 | 101.4 | 15.53 | 1,515 | |||
| Catalogue No. | Teeth: Wear menton-nasion height (a) | Alveolar point-nasion height (b) | Diameter bizygomatic maximum (c) | Facial index, total (a × 100) c | Facial index, upper (b × 100) c | Basion-alveolar point | Basion-subnasal point | Basion-nasion | Facial angle | Alveolar angle | Height of symphysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 332512 | [28]12.3 | 7.5 | 13.4 | 91.8 | 56 | 10.2 | 8.9 | 10.2 | 68.5 | 51 | 3.9 |
| 332517 | 7.4 | 13.4 | 55.2 | 10.2 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 64.5 | 51.5 | 4 | ||
| 332514 | [29]13 | 7.7 | 13.3 | 97.7 | 57.9 | 10.2 | 9.4 | 10.4 | 69 | 63.5 | 4.5 |
| 332503 | [30]12.8 | 8.1 | 13.6 | 94.1 | 59.6 | 10.5 | 9.5 | 10.4 | 66.5 | 59.5 | 3.7 |
| 332507 | [31] | 14.1 | 8.6 | 10 | 3.7 | ||||||
| 332526 | 10.4 | ||||||||||
| 332552 | [32] | 13.6 | 8.8 | 10.1 | 3.8 | ||||||
| 332502 | [28]13 | 8.1 | 14.1 | 92.2 | 57.4 | 10.4 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 62 | 53 | 4.2 |
| (4) | (5) | (5) | (4) | (5) | (5) | (7) | (8) | (5) | (5) | (7) | |
| Totals | 51.1 | 38.8 | 67.8 | 51.5 | 63.3 | 80.9 | 27.8 | ||||
| Averages | 12.78 | 7.76 | 13.56 | 93.9 | 57.2 | 10.3 | 9.04 | 10.11 | 66 | 55 | 3.97 |
| Minimum | 12.3 | 7.4 | 13.3 | 91.8 | 55.2 | 10.2 | 8.6 | 9.7 | 62 | 51 | 3.7 |
| Maximum | 13 | 8.1 | 14.1 | 97.7 | 59.6 | 10.5 | 9.5 | 10.4 | 69 | 63.5 | 4.5 |
| (7) | |||||||||||
| Totals | 95.5 | ||||||||||
| Averages | 13.64 | ||||||||||
| Minimum | 13.3 | ||||||||||
| Maximum | 14.1 |
| Catalogue No. | Orbits: Height, right, left | Breadth, right, left | Orbital index, mean | Nose: Height | Breadth, maximum | Nasal index | Palate: external length (a) | External breadth, maximum (b) | Palatal index (b × 100) a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 332512 | 3.65 3.65 | 3.8 3.8 | 96 | 5.3 | 2.55 | 48.1 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 85.9 |
| 332517 | 3.35 3.45 | 3.9 3.8 | 88.3 | 5 | 2.6 | 52 | 5.6 | 6.5 | 86.2 |
| 332514 | 3.5 3.5 | 3.7 3.7 | 94.6 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 41.8 | 5.3 | 7 | 75.7 |
| 332503 | 3.65 3.6 | 4 3.95 | 91.2 | 5.7 | 2.45 | 43 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 85.7 |
| 332507 | 3.75 3.7 | 3.85 3.95 | 95.5 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 48.1 | |||
| 332526 | |||||||||
| 332552 | 3.5 3.5 | 3.9 3.9 | 5.35 | 2.5 | |||||
| 332502 | 3.45 3.4 | 4.15 4 | 84 | 5.8 | 2.95 | 50.9 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 90.8 |
| Right | (7) | (7) | (7) | ||||||
| Left | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (5) | (5) | (5) |
| Totals | r. 24.85 l. 24.80 | 27.30 27.10 | 37.85 | 17.85 | 27.7 | 32.7 | |||
| Averages | r. 3.55 l. 3.54 | 3.90 3.87 | 91 91.5 | 5.41 | 2.55 | 47.2 | 5.54 | 6.54 | 84.7 |
| Minimum | r. 3.35 l. 3.4 | 3.7 3.7 | 5 | 2.3 | 41.8 | 5.3 | 6.3 | 75.7 | |
| Maximum | r. 3.75 l. 3.7 | 4.15 4 | 5.8 | 2.95 | 52 | 5.9 | 7 | 90.8 |
| Catalogue No. | Collection | Locality | Approximate age of subject | Vault: Diameter antero-posterior maximum (glabella ad maximum) | Diameter lateral maximum | Basion-bregma height | Cranial index | Mean height index | Height-breadth index | Cranial module | Capacity, in c. c. (Hrdlička's method) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 332506 | A. Hrdlička | Magi (Bonasila) | Adult | 18.2 | 13.4 | 13.1 | 73.6 | 82.9 | 97.8 | 14.90 | 1,400 |
| 332520 | do | Ghost Creek | do | 17.9 | 13.2 | 12.7 | 73.7 | 81.4 | 96.2 | 14.60 | 1,335 |
| 332508 | do | Magi | do | 17.2 | 12.8 | 13.1 | 74.4 | 87.3 | 102.3 | 14.37 | 1,225 |
| 332519 | do | Ghost Creek | do | 16.2 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 75.9 | 86.6 | 100.0 | 13.60 | 1,070 |
| 332510 | do | Magi | do | 17.6 | 13.5 | 13.2 | 76.7 | 84.6 | 97.8 | 14.77 | 1,375 |
| 332504 | do | do | do | 17.9 | 13.8 | 13.5 | 77.1 | 85.4 | 97.8 | 15.07 | 1,355 |
| 332525 | do | Ghost Creek | do | 17.4 | 13.5 | 12.5 | 77.6 | 81.2 | 92.6 | 14.47 | 1,260 |
| 332525 | do | Magi | do | 17.2 | 13.4 | 12.6 | 77.9 | 82.4 | 94.0 | 14.40 | 1,230 |
| 332522 | do | Novi River | do | 16.7 | 13.4 | 12.8 | 80.2 | 85.3 | 95.5 | 14.30 | 1,210 |
| 339751 | H. W. Krieger | Magi | do | 16.4 | 13.4 | 12.6 | 81.7 | 84.6 | 94.0 | 14.13 | 1,210 |
| (10) | (10) | (10) | (10) | (10) | (10) | (10) | (10) | ||||
| Totals | 172.7 | 132.7 | 128.4 | 144.6 | 12,670 | ||||||
| Averages | 17.27 | 13.27 | 12.84 | 76.8 | 84.1 | 96.8 | 14.46 | 1,267 | |||
| Minimum | 16.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 73.6 | 81.2 | 92.6 | 13.60 | 1,070 | |||
| Maximum | 18.2 | 13.8 | 13.5 | 81.7 | 87.3 | 102.3 | 15.07 | 1,400 | |||
| Catalogue No. | Teeth: Wear menton-nasion height (a) | Alveolar point-nasion height (b) | Diameter bizygomatic maximum (c) | Facial index, total (a × 100) c | Facial index, upper (b × 100) c | Basion-alveolar point | Basion-subnasal point | Basion-nasion | Facial angle | Alveolar angle | Height of symphysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 332506 | [34]12.1 | 7.5 | 12.7 | 95.3 | 59.1 | 9.9 | 8.8 | -10 | -69 | -54 | 3.8 |
| 332520 | 6.9 | 13.3 | 51.9 | 10.6 | 9.4 | 9.7 | -63 | -52 | |||
| 332508 | [35]10.8 | -7 | 12.6 | 85.7 | 55.6 | 9.6 | 8.5 | 9.9 | -71 | -51 | -3 |
| 332519 | 6.7 | 12.1 | 55.4 | 9.3 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 64.5 | 42.5 | |||
| 332510 | +11.6 | -7 | -12 | 96.7 | 58.3 | 9.7 | 8.4 | 9.5 | -67 | -51 | 3.7 |
| 332504 | [34]13.1 | -8 | 13.6 | 91.8 | 56 | 10.4 | 9.1 | 10.5 | -68 | 54.5 | 3.9 |
| 332525 | [36] | 12.9 | 8.7 | 9.9 | 3.6 | ||||||
| 332505 | [37]11.8 | 6.8 | 12.8 | 92.2 | 53.1 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 9.6 | -70 | -51 | 3.7 |
| 322522 | 7.1 | 13.3 | 54.1 | 9.2 | 8.6 | -10 | 74.5 | -64 | |||
| 332751 | [38]11 | 6.7 | 13.1 | -84 | 51.1 | 9.6 | 8.5 | 9.3 | -67 | 48.5 | 3.35 |
| (6) | (9) | (10) | (6) | (9) | (9) | (10) | (10) | (9) | (9) | (7) | |
| Totals | 70.4 | 63.7 | 128.4 | 87.8 | 86.2 | 97.2 | 25.05 | ||||
| Averages | 11.73 | 7.08 | 12.84 | 91.7 | 55.1 | 9.76 | 8.62 | 9.72 | -68 | -52 | 3.58 |
| Minimum | 10.8 | 6.7 | -12 | -84 | 51.1 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 8.8 | -63 | 42.5 | -3 |
| Maximum | 13.1 | -8 | 13.6 | 96.7 | 59.1 | 10.6 | 9.4 | 10.5 | 74.5 | -64 | 3.9 |
| Catalogue No. | Orbits: Height, right, left | Breadth, right, left | Orbital index, mean | Nose: Height | Breadth, maximum | Nasal index | Palate: external length (a) | External breadth, maximum (b) | Palatal index (b × 100) a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 332506 | 3.55 3.6 | 3.8 3.8 | 94.1 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 40 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 85.2 |
| 332520 | 3.3 3.4 | 3.7 3.7 | 90.5 | 4.75 | 2.4 | 50.5 | 5.4 | 6 | 90 |
| 332508 | 3.7 —— | 4 —— | 92.5 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 48.1 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 89.7 |
| 332519 | 3.4 3.5 | 3.7 3.65 | 93.9 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 48.9 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 98.2 |
| 332510 | 3.3 3.2 | 3.55 3.55 | 91.6 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 48.9 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 82.8 |
| 332504 | 3.7 3.65 | 3.95 4.05 | 91.9 | 5.4 | 2.15 | 39.8 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 85.1 |
| 332525 | —— 3.25 | —— 3.8 | 85.5 | 5.15 | 2.2 | 42.7 | |||
| 332505 | 3.8 3.6 | 3.95 3.85 | 94.0 | 4.9 | 2.35 | 48 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 91.4 |
| 332522 | 3.7 3.6 | 3.95 3.95 | 92.4 | 5.45 | 2.3 | 42.2 | 5 | 6.6 | 75.8 |
| 332751 | 3.1 3.2 | 3.8 3.7 | 84 | 5 | 2.4 | 48 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 81.5 |
| Right | (9) | (9) | (9) | ||||||
| Left | (9) | (9) | (9) | (10) | (10) | (10) | (9) | (9) | (9) |
| Total | r. 31.55 l. 31 | 34.4 34.05 | 50.75 | 23.1 | 47.8 | 55.4 | |||
| Average | r. 3.51 l. 3.44 | 3.82 3.78 | 91.7 91 | 5.07 | 2.31 | 45.5 | 5.31 | 6.16 | 86.3 |
| Minimum | r. 3.1 l. 3.2 | 3.55 3.55 | 4.7 | 2.15 | 39.8 | 5 | 5.5 | 75.8 | |
| Maximum | r. 3.8 l. 3.65 | 4 4.05 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 50.5 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 98.2 |