Later Arctic times: Paleo-Eskimo?

Giddings, J. Louis (James Louis); Anderson, Douglas D.

essay

Later Arctic times: Paleo-Eskimo?

Beach ridge archeology of Cape Krusenstern : Eskimo and pre-Eskimo settlements around Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, by J.L. Giddings and Douglas D. Anderson • (20) • Published In 1986 • Pages: 115-230, 363-368 , plates

By: Giddings, J. Louis (James Louis), Anderson, Douglas D..

Abstract
The authors describe the results of their field work around Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. They give detailed descriptions of the houses, campsites, graves, and artifacts they excavated that date to the Choris, Norton-Near Ipiutak, and Ipiutak time periods. They consider these cultures to be within the Arctic Small Tool tradition and to be ancestral to Eskimo culture. However, as only a few artifacts from the latest stage of this tradition resemble the artifacts from earliest Northern Maritime tradition, the authors believe the two traditions are not directly linked in northwestern Alaska. From the Ipiutak culture, the authors discovered at least eight settlements of between five and fourteen structures, 35 isolated house remains, and tent and campsite remains along the beach ridges of Cape Krusenstern. They excavated 21 house ruins and one entire, large campsite area. Several other campsites were tested. Several mounds or caches of seal skulls were also excavated. A Choris village site was excavated on the Choris Peninsula, along with three Choris 'areas.' Choris campsites were also excavated at Cape Krusenstern and date to a period earlier than the Choris houses. They appear to have been late spring - early summer seal hunting camps. Campsites were also found at Lopp Lagoon and Cape Espenberg. The most detailed information on the Choris culture comes from house and campsite remains which date from the late seventh to sixth centuries B.C. The houses appear to have been occuppied year round and because organic preservation was good, the authors are able to describe Choris subsistence activities and the seasonal round. During the last five centuries B.C. people of the Near Ipiutak culture lived in northwest Alaska. The authors refer to this culture as Norton-Near Ipiutak because of the similarities Near Ipiutak culture has with Norton culture which is found south of the Bering Sea. Discussed are sites from Agulaak, Cape Espenberg, Singauruk, Cape Krusenstern, and Battle Rock. The artifact assemblages seem rather varied, probably due to the specialized subsistence activities pursued at each site. Campsites were found at Cape Krusenstern, Cape Espenberg, and Lopp Lagoon (Agulaak); house sites at Kugzruk Island (Agulaak); and grave sites at Battle Rock. The authors consider Battle rock to be an early phase of Norton-Near Ipiutak. Battle Rock Burial 4 contained at least three individuals and yielded stone tools, pottery, and numerous organic artifacts, many of which were decorated with an engraving style which can be compared to the later Okvik/Ipiutak/Old Bering Sea cultures.

Cultural participation

Bone, horn, and shell technology

Lithic industries

Dwellings

Heating and lighting equipment

Region

North America

Sub Region