Brown researchers uncover 200-year-old Alaskan village

BROWN UNIVERSITY ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered a 200-year-old village in northwest Alaska, one of the largest sites discovered in the region. / COURTESY ALASKA PUBLIC MEDIA/DAYSHA EATON
BROWN UNIVERSITY ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered a 200-year-old village in northwest Alaska, one of the largest sites discovered in the region. / COURTESY ALASKA PUBLIC MEDIA/DAYSHA EATON

ANCHORAGE, Ala. – A team of Brown University archaeologists uncovered one of the largest archaeological sites to be discovered in the Arctic, in Northwestern Alaska, Alaska Public Media reported.
According to radio carbon dating, the site dates to the late 18th century to the early 19th century, right before the first contact with explorers. Researchers believe the site was a regional capital and that residents kept dogs.
The extent of the village’s tunnel system, described as a “web” connecting the cabins, was noteworthy to the team of explorers.
“In some other areas here we’ve found maybe two houses that are connected by tunnels, but nothing like this,” Doug Anderson, an arctic archaeologist, said in a statement. “And in other areas those houses are really quite small compared the houses here; these are gigantic houses.”
Two sets of human remains were found at the site. Locals hope the site can help them learn more about their ancestors, and some plan to donate DNA to be tested against those of the people found. The two humans will later be returned to tribal leaders for burial.

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