Amalik Bay Archeological Sites: Human settlement, seasonality, and sea-level change on the Pacific Coast of the Alaska Peninsula, ca. 8,000 ¿ 4,000 years ago

The objective of this agreement is to understand the nature of human settlement of the Pacific Coast of Katmai National Park, ca. 8000-4000 years ago through detailed investigation of known archaeological sites currently threatened by a variety of physical and biological forces, and through thorough investigation of how current and historic sea-level change both distorts our understanding of the distribution of coastal cultural resources and actively threatens the preservation of known resources today. The project includes three separate but related lines of inquiry: 1) limited subsurface investigation of two archaeological site types that date to the Ocean Bay Period (one in Kukak Bay, the other in Amalik Bay); 2) detailed analysis of the cultural residues found in each, including a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of using isotopic analysis of shellfish remains to establish season of occupation, and; 3) a careful assessment of coastal geomorphology to settle disputes about the nature of tectonic uplift and coastal subsidence in different areas of the Pacific Coast of Katmai National Park & Preserve. The proposed research works towards further refinement of the Archaeological Overview and Assessment for Katmai National Park & Preserve, and will aid in management decisions about coastal cultural resources by establishing site significance, aiding in the interpretation of distinct cultural site types, providing an assessment of how physical ocean processes create a frag...
Source: Grants.gov - Category: Research Tags: Education Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Natural Resources Source Type: funding