Site Structure and the Organization of a Late Prehistoric and Early

Site Structure and the Organization of a Late Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeological Site near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska

Conference Paper

Site Structure and the Organization of a Late Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeological Site near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska

Craig GERLACH; Pete BOWERS; Robin MILLS

Abstract

Recent archaeological investigations in Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, resulted in the excavation of nearly 200 m2 and 21 features at a late prehistoric/early historic camp, butchering and processing site (XCL-359). More than 38 features were identified, including tent rings, hearths, cache pits, windbreaks, hunting blinds and caribou and mountain sheep processing areas. Repeated occupations over the past 1600 years by late phases of the Arctic Small Tool tradition and other late prehistoric components produced thousands of identifiable faunal elements, thousands of lithic artifacts, and a small amount of late 19th and 20th century Nunamiut material. We examine the spatial organization of all categories of recovered artifactual and faunal material, statistically position these data in relation to the spatial distribution of features, discuss site seasonality, and evaluate a new model of site structure in relation to previous behavioral and archaeological models of site structure and organization for the Nunamiut at Anaktuvuk Pass.