A new perspective on Late Holocene social interaction in Northwest Alaska: results of a preliminary ceramic sourcing study

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis research examines the evidence for prehistoric ceramic exchange networks over the last 2000 years in northwest Alaska through the use of neutron activation analysis of ceramic artifacts. Results from ceramic analysis on eight coastal and inland archaeological sites identified three source macrogroups and three associated subgroups. Clay source diversity and shared source macrogroups between geographically distant sites suggest the use of multiple sources and/or the movement of pots between production locales, mirroring related patterns in pottery stylistic data. Although additional analytical work is needed to fully understand the changing character of clay procurement and ceramic distribution across this time period, this study provides exploratory data on past ceramic production and distribution that hints at changes in exchange and territoriality in northwest Alaska during the late Holocene.

Determining Initial Firing Temperatures of Thule Era (1000-250 ya) Pottery from Two Northwest Alaskan Archaeological Sites

“…The results of clay sourcing analysis combined with knowledge of geographically specific decorative styles indicate that pottery and clay were part of a large exchange network in Northwest Alaska (Anderson et al 2011). Some areas reportedly had rather crude ceramic technology and traded for better quality ceramics with neighboring groups (Anderson et al 2011).…”

“…Ceramic technology in the Arctic was once thought of as a low grade, expedient technology (Anderson et al 2011, Frink and Harry 2008, Lutz 1971. Early research was largely descriptive, classifications and chronologies were created based primarily on form, decoration, and temper type (De Laguna 1939, Oswalt 1952, Dumond 1969, Lutz 1971.…”

“…In more recent research there has been renewed interest in the study of arctic pottery to address research questions about past northern hunter-gatherer lifeways. For example, clay sourcing studies are being used to understand exchange networks (Anderson et al 2011). Ethnoarchaeological research is addressing social functions of arctic ceramics (Frink 2009).…”

“…Current research uses ethnoarchaeological and experimental research to understand the social, technological and functional aspects of arctic ceramics and to re-analyze old assumptions about the skills needed to make and use arctic pottery and the quality of Arctic ceramic technology (Frink and Harry 2008, Harry and Frink 2009, Harry et al 2009, Anderson et al 2011. The idea that this pottery was an expedient and simple technology has been rejected as we have come to understand the complex technological choices made in creating a functional vessel under adverse conditions.…”

“…The earliest Paleoeskimo pottery dates to between about 2500 and 1000 BP, Neoeskimo pottery appears at about 1000 BP (Anderson in review:3) and is present in the archaeological record until metal pots replace ceramics in the late 19th century. On the coast of Northwest Alaska, however, there appears to be a gap in pottery production between 1900 and 1000 years ago (Anderson et al 2011).…”