RAPID:Emergency Excavation of Eroding Ipiutak Structure at Nuvuk, Point Barrow, Alaska

Barrow Arctic Science Consortium (Basc), Barrow AK

Investigators

Abstract

Nuvuk, the northernmost archaeological site in the United States, is located at the tip of Point Barrow, Alaska. It is endangered by rapid coastal erosion. This summer, the final field season of the NSF-funded Nuvuk Archaeology project encountered additional Ipiutak material in the current erosion face, including part of a box hearth and adjacent living surface, the first such feature north of Point Hope. Artifacts included an Ipiutak point, a jet and ivory composite labret, decorated ivory fragments, and a wide variety of lithics. Faunal material included large amounts of fishbone, which is quite rare at Ipiutak. Field considerations did not permit excavation of the entire feature, and it will be eroded away by the first fall storm. This small RAPID award will provide the resources needed to conduct an excavation as soon as possible to record the structure and recover the archaeological data it contains prior to the arrival of the fall storm season and its potential loss.