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An Early Inupiaq Occupation: Observations on a Thule House From Cape Espenberg, Alaska
- Source :
- Open Archaeology, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 17-48 (2017)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2017.
-
Abstract
- This paper describes and interprets a well-preserved early Thule semi-subterranean dwelling from Cape Espenberg, Alaska. The house architecture is similar in many respects to other early Thule dwellings with a sub-rectangular main room, long sunken entrance tunnel, and associated kitchen area. However, the presence of narrow side benches and associated flooring differences adds significantly to the variability present in Thule house form. Radiocarbon dates indicate occupations spanning 1300 to 1450 cal CE. Wood analysis suggests that the house underwent at least one rebuilding episode, which seems to have extended the house occupation into the early 15th century. People acquired mostly small seals for their subsistence, but supplemented their diets in the spring and fall with migrating birds, fish, terrestrial mammals, and other marine mammals. This house represents a fairly typical early Thule coastal winter occupation, but careful excavation of a well-preserved house reveals interesting details in house form, wood use, and subsistence patterns.
- Subjects :
- alaska
010506 paleontology
Archeology
History
060102 archaeology
wood architecture
06 humanities and the arts
Conservation
01 natural sciences
Archaeology
Inupiaq
language.human_language
kotzebue sound
Education
thule
dwelling
Classical archaeology
zooarchaeology
Cape
language
0601 history and archaeology
CC1-960
Zooarchaeology
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 23006560
- Volume :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Open Archaeology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....01cdcc94d14cc4bb96e49884135410aa