The Manitunik Eskimo Culture of East Hudson's Bay

Abstract

Archaeologically, the east coast of Hudson's Bay is an unexplored area. There never has been scientific excavation undertaken in this region, although the Eskimo inhabitants have been plundering the “Tunit” graves and old tent sites for many years. However, some archaeological information based upon collections from the Belcher Islands and Port Harrison, is available. In 1921-24 Dr. Knud Rasmussen and Dr. Therkel Mathiassen obtained, collections from the Belcher Islands and Port Harrison for the Fifth Thule Expedition. Mr. J. Kenneth Doutt of the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, secured additional artifacts from the Belcher Islands in 1938, which have been described and analyzed by Dr. Diamond Jenness. In the summer of 1939, the writer secured archaeological materials from Eskimos on Tukarak and Inetelling Islands in the Belcher Group.Although all of the artifacts from the east Hudson's Bay region have been excavated by Eskimos, the reasonably specific provenience, and lack of other data lend some scientific value to these collections.