Henry B. Collins was the first archaeologist to recognize OBS I, or Okvik, as a distinctly seperate artistic style (1937:46). During his excavation and study of middens and ruins on St. Lawrence Island, he recognized objects lightly engraved with parallel lines enclosing open spaces and human figural sculpture with characteristic narrow faces, long thin nasal bridges, and angular body decoration.

Figure
L. 4 in.

Okvik human sculptural style focuses attention on the head and its facial details, bodies often being rendered without surface elaboration. This figure, with its elongated oval face, delicately carved eyebrows, long nose, and small mouth, is an excellent diminutive example of this treatment.

Harpoon HeadHarpoon HeadUlu Handle
Slate bladeFlint blade L. 3 in.
L. 3.25 in.L. 4.25 in.

Figure
H. 6.25 in.

Cat 5. is an unusually simple figure, with no surface elaboration. The orientation of the facial plane and the treatment of the torso and neck are distinctively Okvik in style. The figure, which shows evidence of great wear, was never engraved with surface detail (Wardwell, 1998). Both sculptures stand in marked contrast to later Old Bering Sea II and III carvings, which are often characterized by exuberant engraving and shallow relief modeling.

Figural Pendant Figure of a BearFigure of a Bear
L. 2.5 in. L. 3.25 in. L. 4.875 in.