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Archaeologists Discover 960-Year-Old Native American Cache Pit in Alaska, Revealing Ancient Practices
On a hillside in the Gulf of Alaska, archaeologists have unearthed a nearly untouched cache pit used by the people Dene indigenous people of the region.
The well was found on an ancestral Dene trail famous for connecting the modern Anchorage area to the north.
Measuring about 1 meter deep, the well was carefully dug in well-drained soil and lined with birch bark and grass.
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This care helped preserve foods such as fish, meat and berries, which were crucial to survival in the harsh seasonal conditions of Southeast Alaska.
The Dene people and their cultural practices
The Dene, also known as Athabaskans, included the Dena'ina and Ahtna peoples. During the summers, they inhabited the region to catch and preserve salmon and meat from land animals such as moose and caribou, using storage techniques at sites such as this well.
Archaeologists believed the cache could be a few hundred years old, but radiocarbon testing revealed a surprising fact: 960 years old, give or take 30 years.
"When we received the results, we were shocked. It was exciting to see that the story was even older than we imagined.”, says Elizabeth Ortiz, archaeologist at JBER, the military base where the discovery was made.
An analysis further confirmed the oral traditions of the Dena'ina and Ahtna peoples, who claim that an area around Anchorage has been used by their ancestors for millennia.
Further tests are being carried out to identify the origin of the food buried in the well, such as moose or caribou.
Studying the surrounding soil also helped to understand whether these animals were stored on site or just passing through.
The cache pit found is a rarity in the region, as most of the surrounding area was destroyed in the 1940s during the construction of JBER.
The preservation of the site is a milestone for archaeologists and, especially, for the indigenous groups in the region, who see it as an important link to the past.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
The cultural importance of the discovery for indigenous peoples
"Although development is progressive, it is possible to take advantage of these discoveries to enrich our historical and cultural understanding.,” says Aaron Leggett, president of the Native Village of Eklutna and curator of the Anchorage Museum.
He highlights the importance of using these opportunities to collaborate with governments and promote a deeper understanding of local history.
Today, about half of Alaska's population lives on traditional Dene lands, making the preservation of sites like this even more important.
The work of archaeologists in collaboration with local tribes has been fundamental in contextualizing these discoveries and ensuring that future generations understand the historical richness of the region.
For Angela Wade, a historic preservationist in the village of Chickaloon, each new abandoned site investigated is a chance to rescue important pieces of history that might otherwise have been lost.
"It's like recovering a piece of our history from what we separated from”, says Wade, reflecting on the value of keeping ancestral memory alive.
With information smithsonianmag.
Impressive!!!
This planet has… MYSTERIES, MANY MYSTERIES!
If on the Earth's surface there is still much to discover about our ancestors and our origins, let us imagine the oceans and seas, which are still so unknown, not to mention the gigantic Cosmos.