Preliminary archaeoentomological analyses of permafrost-preserved cultural layers from the pre-contact Yup'ik Eskimo site of Nunalleq, Alaska: Implications, potential and methodological considerations

Abstract

At Nunalleq, a pre-contact Yup'ik Eskimo village site in Alaska (14th-17th century AD), abundant insect remains from highly organic substrates preserved within permafrost offer a unique opportunity to investigate past ecological and living conditions. This paper presents the preliminary results obtained from the analysis of two samples collected from floor layers in sod houses. The numerous and diverse insect remains highlight the exciting potential of archaeoentomology for reconstructing past ecological conditions, resource exploitation and the use of space at northern hunter-gatherer sites and have permitted the development of a strategy for the future collection of archaeoentomological data at permafrost-preserved sites in Alaska and elsewhere.

Stable carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analysis of permafrost preserved human hair from rescue excavations (2009, 2010) at the precontact site of Nunalleq, Alaska

“…Yup'ik for 'the old village', Nunalleq was revealed along an eroding coastline, a product of recent climatic change, which has also led to a reduction in permafrost and more unpredictable weather conditions in the region, along with other impacts such as local infrastructural damage and changes in the abundance, distribution and seasonality of plant and animal resources (Callaway et al, 1999;ACIA, 2004;Hinzman et al, 2005;Moore and Huntington, 2008;Joly et al, 2011). Permafrost and waterlogged soils at Nunalleq have led to the preservation of tens of thousands of in situ artefacts at the precontact village site (c.1300 CE-1750 CE), and an extensive assemblage of organic ecofactual and bioarchaeological remains including animal bone, fur, and cut strands of human hair from nonmortuary contexts (Britton et al, 2013;Farrell et al, 2014;Forbes et al, 2015). Following several years of rescue excavations, the site and its landscapes, are now the subject of a major research project and field investigation.…”

Dating and Digging Stratified Archaeology in Circumpolar North America: A View from Nunalleq, Southwestern Alaska

“…The result was the discovery of the remains of a multiphase village with numerous house floor layers that yielded tens of thousands of in situ lithics, pottery fragments, and artefacts of wood and grass. In addition, there were exceptionally well preserved ecofacts, including bone from terrestrial and marine animals, diverse plant remains, insects, fur, and human hair (Britton et al, 2013;Forbes et al, 2015). A suite of rangefinder dates on materials excavated between 2009 and 2012 returned ages from 182 ± 37 BP to 650 ± 40 BP (Table 1), implying a Thule-era occupation of three to four centuries (Britton et al, 2013).…”

Archaeoentomological Perspectives on Dorset Occupations in Newfoundland: A Case Study from the Site of Phillip’s Garden (EeBi-1)

“…The occupation of Phillip's Garden did not allow the development of a synanthropic fauna; however, like other sites located in the Arctic, it did provide ecological niches differing from the natural environment (Forbes et al, 2014(Forbes et al, , 2015. Previous archaeoentomological analysis undertaken on PaleoInuit and Inuit sites demonstrated that higher densities of beetles associated with wastes are found in human-built environments than in the natural environment (Forbes et al, 2014(Forbes et al, , 2015.…”

“…The occupation of Phillip's Garden did not allow the development of a synanthropic fauna; however, like other sites located in the Arctic, it did provide ecological niches differing from the natural environment (Forbes et al, 2014(Forbes et al, , 2015. Previous archaeoentomological analysis undertaken on PaleoInuit and Inuit sites demonstrated that higher densities of beetles associated with wastes are found in human-built environments than in the natural environment (Forbes et al, 2014(Forbes et al, , 2015. At Phillip's Garden, as well as the sites of Nunalleq, Alaska, and Qeqertasussuk, Greenland, rove beetles (Staphylinidae) were the most numerous family and seemingly thrived in the conditions provided by the dwellings (Böcher and Fredskild, 1993;Forbes et al, 2015).…”

“…At Phillip's Garden, as well as the sites of Nunalleq, Alaska, and Qeqertasussuk, Greenland, rove beetles (Staphylinidae) were the most numerous family and seemingly thrived in the conditions provided by the dwellings (Böcher and Fredskild, 1993;Forbes et al, 2015). As Forbes et al (2015) mentioned, the absence of synanthropic fauna on hunter-gatherer sites poses new challenges and questions for archaeoentomologists: why are they absent, and how can other insects, often seen as background fauna, provide valuable information on past human occupations?…”