2006 Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum | Abstracts

Learning from the Past: Archaeology of Nuvuk

Anne M. Jensen¹, Dennis H. O'Rourke², Shawn Miller^3
1Science Division, Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation, PO Box 577, Barrow, AK, 99723, USA, Phone 907-852-3050, Fax 907-852-2632, anne.jensen@uicscience.org
²Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, 270 S. 1400 E., Room 102, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112-0060, USA, Phone 801-581-7454, Fax 801-581-6252, orourke@anthro.utah.edu
³Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, 270 S. 1400 E., Room 102, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, Phone 801-581-6251, Fax 801-581-6252, shawn.miller@anthro.utah.edu

North America's northernmost village, Nuvuk, was once located at the tip of Point Barrow, Alaska. Erosion has been exposing ancient human remains at an alarming rate. An NSF-funded survey of the area revealed that there are a large number of old unmarked graves in severe danger of erosion. Many cultural features, including work areas and apparent tent sites, are also threatened with erosion.

This project, with funding from the Department of Education's (DoEd) Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations (ECHO) program is involving students in all phases of a major archaeological project to excavate these threatened cultural resources, and save the data they contain about the past 1100 or 1200 years of history at Nuvuk.

Several additional research projects have developed in connection with this excavation, including skeletal morphometrics, a specialist analysis of wood and woodworking, and geophysical site mapping. Projects involving ancient human DNA, and a controlled intercomparison of additional geophysical techniques are proposed and seeking funding. Additional projects being considered include a geomorphological study of the Point Barrow spit and ancient DNA from faunal remains.