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Evaluating Prehistoric Sea Ice Variability and Culture Change in Northwest Alaska

Evaluating Prehistoric Sea Ice Variability and Culture Change in Northwest Alaska. Adam Freeburg University of Washington Seattle, USA. Archaeology provides. Long term perspective Interdisciplinarity Human aspect. Orthophoto Manley et al. 2007. Ice as medium for. Subsistence

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Evaluating Prehistoric Sea Ice Variability and Culture Change in Northwest Alaska

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  1. Evaluating Prehistoric Sea Ice Variability and Culture Change in Northwest Alaska Adam Freeburg University of Washington Seattle, USA

  2. Archaeology provides... • Long term perspective • Interdisciplinarity • Human aspect

  3. Orthophoto Manley et al. 2007

  4. Ice as medium for... • Subsistence • Transportation • Living http://vilda.alaska.edu

  5. Ice as part of... • Subsistence Change • Culture change • Social Upheaval Reconstructing the “icescape” http://vilda.alaska.edu

  6. Paleo- proxies in NW Alaska • Tree rings • Pollen • Beach ridges • Archaeological fauna

  7. Fauna as Ice Proxy Ringed Seal- Natchiq (Phocahispida) Bearded Seal- Ugruk (Erignathusbarbatus) Prefers pack ice Birthing, nursing on floes Available only when pack ice is accessible from land (spring or autumn) • Prefers fast ice • Sub-nivean lairs for birthing, nursing • Shorter ice duration can have impact on pup health, survival Photos: National Geographic

  8. Fauna as Ice Proxy Ipiutak A.D. 450-650 Thule A.D. 1000-1200

  9. Fauna as Ice Proxy • Ringed:Bearded seal ratio change • Variability of ice extent/duration • Chronological resolution on human scale

  10. Ipiutak (A.D. 450) Kotzebue (A.D. 1400) Thule (A.D. 1000)

  11. Ringed seal isotopes (Strathe 2007) Increase in δ15N: widening diet Decrease in δ13C: declining productivity Productivity tied to timing, extent of sea ice

  12. Summary • Archaeological fauna as paleo-ice proxy • Provide long term info on human scale and dimension • Test hypotheses of cultural interaction • Lessons of adaptation and resiliency- challenges and possibilities

  13. Acknowledgements • NRF: Young Researcher Fellowship • NPS: Alaska Regional Office and Western Arctic Parklands staff • UW: Ben Fitzhugh, Shelby Anderson,2008-2010 crews, and CAKR Lab students • Herbert Foster, Krusenstern community, and Native Village of Kotzebue

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