Human resilience and resettlement among the Islands of Four Mountains, Aleutians, Alaska

Abstract

Combined archaeological, ecological, and geologic research on Chuginadak and Carlisle Islands in the Islands of Four Mountains (IFM) probed questions about the sustainability of human settlements over the past 4000 years in the face of geologic, ecological, and social hazards. We use a human ecodynamics approach to frame the investigation and present original archaeological evidence from this poorly known region of the remote Aleutian Islands. Several village sites occupied during the last four millennia are clustered in locations that were not damaged by earthquake-induced tsunamis; however, new geologic evidence indicates that at least one volcanic eruption forced humans to abandon one or more prehistoric village sites. Combined archaeological, ecological, and geologic analyses demonstrate resilient Unangax̂ occupations of the IFM through long-term climate change as well as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions with occasional community vulnerability to volcanic eruptions.

A 7300-yr-old environmental history of seabird, human, and volcano impacts on Carlisle Island (the Islands of Four Mountains, eastern Aleutians, Alaska)

“…The Islands of Four Mountains (IFM), located between these two larger island groups, could be a significant intermediate waypoint in the postglacial settlement of the Aleutian chain. However, recent archaeological research (Hatfield et al, 2019) did not reveal the expected antiquity of the investigated settlements on the IFM. The earliest direct archaeological evidence for settlement here is ca.…”

“…So we suggest that the IFM were inhabited by 6900 cal yr BP, when the δ 15 N decline in the CR-03 peat deposit is observed. However, there are no other signs of human presence (archaeological or geomorphological) on the IFM at this time (Hatfield et al, 2019; Persico et al, 2018). The first archaeological traces of human occupation occur at about 4000 cal yr BP (Hatfield et al, 2019).…”

“…However, there are no other signs of human presence (archaeological or geomorphological) on the IFM at this time (Hatfield et al, 2019; Persico et al, 2018). The first archaeological traces of human occupation occur at about 4000 cal yr BP (Hatfield et al, 2019). Perhaps the islands were inhabited earlier and that evidence has been buried or eroded (Persico et al, 2018).…”

“…Perhaps the islands were inhabited earlier and that evidence has been buried or eroded (Persico et al, 2018). Further research at sites with older soil deposition may result in extended time depth for the human occupations in these islands (Hatfield et al, 2019).…”

“…The earliest direct archaeological evidence for settlement here is ca. 4000 yr BP, based on three sites in the IFM (Hatfield et al, 2019).…”