The American Museum Of Natural History


1908 Pleistocene of Alaska

Report on the 2nd Expedition to Alaska in search of Pleistocene Fossils, 1908. One result of the exploration carried out by Mr. Quackenbush in 1907 was the discovery in the Eschschholtz Bay region of a portion of a mammoth carcass imbedded in the frozen silts of Elephant Point. Owing to time little was excavated. The primary object of the 2nd expedition was to secure this specimen. Mr. Quackenbush reached Nome June 21st, thence overland by train and wagon to Dancle. Here Mr. James Hoffman with his fishing boat was hired, and the party went down river to Keewalik. Elephant Point was reached on July 3rd and the excavation of the mammoth commenced. Finishing this in a couple of days, the party looked over the bluffs near Choris Peninsula and then returned to Keewalik. A light canoe was found and on July 20th the party left Keewalik and returned to the mouth of the Buckland River beginning the ascent of that stream on the 22nd. They traveled 85 miles up the river and were then forced to turn back on account of low water, due to the exceptional drought. Returning to Eschscholtz Bay they examined the bluffs along the south side and then crossed to the North shore opposite Elephant Point. Here the boats were left and the party walked across the narrow peninsula and spent several days along the southern shore of Selawik Lake and the southern and western shores of Hotham Inlet. They returned to Keewalik on Aug. 20th. Mr. Quackenbush reached New York on Sept. 23rd.

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See also 1907 Annual Report