Digging

Digging
Volunteers work beside professional archaeologists – removing sod and volcanic ash falls with shovels and exploring the layer of ancient camp sites with hand held digging tools – trowels and dust pans. Every excavator works in their own square to preserve information on the location of artifacts in the site.

Muddy excavators at the bottom of Zaimka Mound

Excavations at Zaimka Mound

 

Finding

Finding
Participants dig with anticipation, wondering who will be the next to unearth an ancient object. It might be an artifact – a delicate chipped stone point or a lance blade ground from slate. Or, it might be an animal bone, the remains of a fish or seal. Small objects are hard to see in the dirt, so participants sieve all the dirt they remove to find tiny objects. Not all finds are objects. One goal of the program is to study structures – the houses, sheds, pits and hearths that also record past activities. Excavator work to uncover these larger finds, so they can be mapped and photographed.

Debbie Staggs uncovers a 6,000 year old hearth

Shawn Biessel screening

Tracy Glaz with a granite oil lamp

 

Recording

Recording
Mapping the archaeological finds is a chance for instruction. Participants help the archaeologists plot the dimensions of features uncovered in the site and record the depth of each layer with surveying instruments. Students and interns must also keep notebooks describing field methods, finds, and interpretations.

Birch Biessel takes notes

Mapping at Ziamka Mound

Libby Eufemio takes notes

 

Preserving

Preserving
There are more than 1,300 archaeological sites in the Kodiak region, and ever year, vandals damage some through recreational digging and artifact collecting. These illegal activities are stealing Alutiiq history and disturbing sites so they cannot be meaningfully studied. Community Archaeology provides the public with the opportunity to experience archaeology in a positive way. Many of our volunteers become long-term supporters of historic preservation – and some go on to study archaeology.

Matt Van Daele inspects a screen

Bronmyn Lyman holds fragments of a slate lance

 

Learning

Learning
Over the past 10 year, the Community Archaeology program has studied six sites in the greater Womens Bay region, adding to our knowledge of Alutiiq prehistory. Together these sites are helping us to understand how Alutiiqs used different environments – the banks of the Buskin River, the windy water around Cliff Point, the islands at the eastern entrance to Chiniak Bay, and the quiet inner bay. They also show us how Alutiiq communities changed over time. Learn more by visiting the results section of our Women’s Bay Archaeological project web page.

Buskin Lake and Chiniak Bay

Excavators begin work at Bruhn Point at the head of Womens Bay

 

The 2010 Project

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHERE IS THE DIG?
Community Archaeology 2010 will take place from Monday, August 3rd - Friday, August 12th, at a site known as Mikt’sqaaq Angayuk or ‘Little Friend’, on Leisnoi, Inc. lands at Cliff Point. This isite has both historic and prehistoric Alutiiq houses.  In 2009, the crew undcovered a house dating to about 1820, as well as a sample of the garbage (midden) from the house.  In 2010, the crew will be moving back in time to study older house and midden deposits nera the center of the site.  Students and volunteers are invited to an organizational meeting about the program on Thursday, July 29th at 7pm in the Alutiiq Museum.

WHEN CAN I WORK?
Participants should plan to spend one full day at the dig on their first visit.  Half days can be scheduled after that.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
This project is free and open to the public. Any one age 14 or older may participate. Please call the museum to reserve a spot, as space is limited. Group tours of the excavation are also available. To arrange a tour, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (486-7004, x25).

WHAT DO I BRING?
Warm layers of clothing, rain gear, rubber boots, a hat, gloves, bug spray, sun screen, a bag lunch, and a water bottle. We’ll provide the digging gear.

HOW DO I GET THERE?
Participants meet daily at the Alutiiq Museum to carpool to the site.

WHAT WILL I DO?
Participants will assist museum archaeologists with every aspect of the excavation, from troweling and mapping to screening dirt and carrying buckets. Wear old clothes. You will get dirty!

ACADEMIC CREDITS
Each summer, the Alutiiq Museum offers Community Archaeology participants the chance to earn high school or college credit for participating in the excavation. Credits are provided by the Kodiak Island Borough School District and Kodiak College, a branch of the University of Alaska Anchorage . Graduate student credit can also be arranged. Click here to learn more about earning academic credits.

CAN I PARTICIPATE IF I AM NOT FROM KODIAK?
Yes. The museum is happy to include out-of-town volunteers. However, we do not provide assistance with housing, transportation, or other necessities like food, showers, and laundry. Out-of-town volunteer must plan to be self-sufficient.

Thanks!

Quyanaa!

Our thanks to the many students, interns, volunteers and museum staff members who have helped to make community archaeology a great success.

Program supporters have included:

Our crew members have included: 

Aisling Moffatt Alex Pontti Alexia Kinsley Ali Kerhart Alisha Blondin Amanda Skille Amy Steffian Andrea Knowles Andrea Reeze Andrew Van Atta Andy Schmidt Angela McCormick Ani Thomas Anita Laffey Anjuli Grantham Anna DuPraw Anne Frisch Anne Rowland Annie Fadley April Laktonen Arley Canfield Arnold Charliaga Ashley Koob Barbara Anthony Barbara Chase Betsy Sorensen Bill Colson Bill Oliver Birch Biessel Bob Kopperl Brad Stevens Brenda Barnard Bronwyn Lyman Bud Cassidy Cailey Stevens Caitlin Schott Cameron Campbell Carin Bouchard Carolyn Sealfon Carrie Crye Carrie Hamm Charlotte Chase Cheryl Meunier Chris Blackburn Chris Provost Christine Marasigan Clare Fulp Clare Shepherd Claudia Anderson Cody Brant Cody Strathe Coral Chernoff Crystal Bartleson Cynthia Shangin David LeDoux Dayna Brochman Deanne Vasiles Debbie Staggs Debi Hall Deborah Carver Deborah Robinson Denise Goodman Diane Lang Diane Van Matre Dianne DeLota Donald Clark Donald Lawrence Donna Engel Doug Letch DRB EC Elaine Morrison

Elinor Ramos Elise Koncek Elizabeth Dingus Elizabeth Flynn Elizabeth Manekin Elizabeth Pontti Eufemio Ella Hernnsteen Ellen Lester Elliot Woodward Emily Murrama Emma Nordin Erik Evasdottir ES ESG Forrest Andresen Frank Shepherd Gail Jones Gary Carver Gary Edwards Gary Stevens Georgiann Wooter Gloria Selby GMP Greg Lavin GRO Hilary Cavahan Hilary Skonberg Hillary VanDaele HML Holly Tilden Howard Shapiro Hunter Fijis Indianna Turkisher Jack Schweite Jame Brook Jan DaSheil Jan Finlay Jane Bernsten Jane Van Atta Jay Anderson Jean Rennick Jean-Marie Donza Jeanne Pontti Jeff Anderson Jennie Deo Jennifer Bees Jennifer McCarty Jennifer Rodriquez Jennifer Wooten Jessica Riley Jill Likpa Jim Blackburn Joan Bulter Joe Francisco Joe Smith John Laffey Jonathan Schafler Josh Brewton Josh Hoyt JRC Judi Dean Judy Phillips Justin Hays Justin Watson Kacie Engum Kaleb Garza Karen Barnard Kari Sagel Katharine Woodhouse-Beyer Katherine Grimes Kathleen Skongberg Katie Anthony Katy Oliver Kay Dillion Kendra Kallevig

Kent Rice Kevin Goodman Kim Parker Kim Phillips Kim Swaneveld Kristen Panamaroff Kirsten Pedersen Kirstin Stahl-Johnson Kristen Panamarioff Kyle Bouchard Kyle Butler Laquita Larita Laktonen Latoya Lukin Laura Beir Bower Lauren Cooney Leah Cristaloi Lenora DeRoy Leslie Watson Lida Barrles Lindsay Seibe Lisa Peterson LKE LN Lori Seibe Lou Cox Louise Moulvaney Lydia Mamie Murphy Mandy Morrell Margie Draskovich Marie Lowe Marie Rice Mark Rusk Mark Shilling Marnie Leist Mary Goodman Mary Lund Mary Munroe Mary Patterson Matt LeDoux Matt Tanner Matt Van Atta Matt VanDaele Meg Zimmer Megan Resoff Megan Vasiles Meranda Murray Michael Odell Michael Patitucci Michael Strong Michael Wilson Michelle Bayes Michelle Walters Michieal Salmon Mickie Geeter Mikala Provost Mike Duxbury Mike Marion Milo Williams MME MOC Molly Odell MSRP Myra Scholze Nadia Jachinsky-Horell Nadine Zacharias Nancy Jensen Nancy Nagarka Neil Bertelson Nick Lesourd Niko Borgerman Nick Pletnikoff Noah Patterson Olga McCormick Park BierBower Pat Fontain Pat Holmes Pat Olsen

Pat Szabo Patrick Saltonstall Paul Zimmer Paula Jackson Peg Weston Peter Johnson Peter Moulvaney Phillis Brewton Rachelle Ruffner REA Rebecca Kallevig Rene Anderson Rice Family Rick Langfitt RJ Roger Nagarka Ross Smith Ruth Lovejoy Sally Haldeway Sandy Sara Corbin Sarah Folz Sarah Foster Sarah Neymeyer Sarah Wadell Sasha Stepanoff Scott Rice Sean Cannon SED Selah Lynch Selma Blair Seth Patterson Shawn Biessel Sherra Fearn Sid Hausing Sierra Simpson Six Putney School Students SMG SS Stefanida Bauman Stephanie Brown Stephanie Murrama Steve Hall Steve Hunt Steven Knicely Sumie Ono Susan Gaghiardi Susan O'Leary Susan Patterson Sven Haakanson Jr Tarran Panamarioff Taylor Engum Teresa Squartsoff Thomas Lowie Tim LeDoux TJH Tracy Glaz Tricia Squartsoff Trina Squartsoff Tristen Kewan Troy Bouchard TSL Tyan Selby Valerie Ng Vickie Carmichael Vickie Woodward Wain Goodman Wally Hinderer Wanagi Kocher Wanda Scholze William Watson Willie Meyers Wyatt Biessel Zoya Saltonstall

Students, Interns & Staff - Salonie Mound 2006

If your name is missing from this list?  Let us know! Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and remind us which site you helped to study.