Ancient People of the Arctic

The topic of this book is the history of the paleo-Eskimos, who thrived in the North Amercian Arctic for nearly four thousand years until the arrival of the Innuit. Although the book is nearly exclusively based on archaelogical findings, Robert McGhee succeeds in assembling this data into a very fascinating account of this people lost in time. Fortunately, as the author explains, despite the long period elapsed since the disappearance of the paleo-Eskimos, due to the special arctic environment and climate relatively much has been preserved. The author guides through the history more or less chronologically, explaining the cultural and technological development of these first settlers in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. He speculates on reasons for major changes in hunting techniques and religious practices and the final disappearance of this people vis-a-vis the push toward East by the Innuit. A well written book on a fascinating subject.