The ALANA project, based at the University of Bern’s Humanities in Arctic Research platform focuses on uncovering prehistoric human-environment interactions in Alaska’s Brooks Range mountains. It is supported by the Swiss Polar Institute’s Polar Access Fund and its main local archaeological partners are the University of Alaska Fairbanks UAF and the Bureau of Land Management BLM. We focused on the Brook Range mountains as this region is especially interesting, since it is different from the shores (which have also been more studied archaeologically) and the first documented Euro-American contact with the local Nunaiut Inuit only occurred as recently as 1885. So, until 140 years ago, the people were hunting with bows and arrows and with tools made of flint. It is here that the last nomadic peoples of Northern America settled only some 60-70 years ago. We were able to talk to Nunamiut elders and a few of them grew up in the time before they settled in the village of Anaktuvuk Pass.
To understand more about past human-environment interactions in this part of inland Alaska, we aim to bring together indigenous knowledge with archaeological data. This blog post reflects on key aspects of the recent field survey.
Discovering archaeological sites in the Brooks Range
In August 2024, our team spent ten days surveying the Brooks Range, a remote and mountainous region in Alaska. Our base camp at Lake Galbraith served as the starting point for daily on-ground surveys, where we searched for traces of past human activity. Our main targets were tent rings—rocks arranged in circles to anchor tents—as well as flint chips, evidence of tool-making, and charcoal remains on the surface.
One particularly promising site near the Atigun River stood out. Erosion, possibly driven by melting permafrost, exposed artefacts on the plateau of a hill, suggesting an ancient campsite. Using drones and structure-from-motion software, we documented the landscape and decided to perform a small test excavation on site.
Over the course of a few days, we unearthed around 12 worked flint tools and 4,392 flint chips, an indication of extensive tool production on this plateau. Charcoal samples, now being analysed at the University of Bern’s Radiocarbon Laboratory, will hopefully provide more insight into the age of the site.
This discovery, catalogued as PSM-077, could become a crucial piece in understanding how ancient peoples in the Brooks Range adapted to their environment. This site offers exciting research potential. One hypothesis is that the flint chips and tools were deposited in a natural depression on the plateau, perhaps discarded after tool-making activities nearby. Further excavations next summer could provide more context, as the site holds promise to significantly advance our understanding of prehistoric life in Northern Alaska.
Exploring ice patches and indigenous knowledge
In addition, we also explored ice patches, i.e. areas formed from snow that does not melt during summer and that slowly turns to ice. Unlike glaciers, the patches do not move at all, meaning that items stored in them can remain locked in ice for millennia. Ice patches are known to attract caribou who move to the ice patches to escape the vast swathes of mosquitos that plague the Arctic in the summer. This, in turn, often leads to increased chances of human activity, as the hunters follow them. While we didn’t find any human-made artefacts, these sites remain key areas of interest for future surveys, given their association with ancient hunting activity, offering valuable insight into the landscape.
A highlight of the field trip was our visit to the Nunamiut Inuit community at Anaktuvuk Pass. This small village is home to the last nomadic people in North America, who only settled in the 1950s. Talking with elders, some of whom grew up as nomads, provided invaluable insight into traditional subsistence strategies. Their knowledge of historical hunting practices and camp locations will guide future archaeological investigations in the Brooks Range. The warmth and hospitality of the Nunamiut community ensured our visit was a success. Their input will play a critical role in interpreting the archaeological data and connecting it with the living memory of the region.
The impact of the Polar Access Fund
The Polar Access Fund from the Swiss Polar Institute was instrumental in making the ALANA project a reality. Without this funding, we couldn’t have carried out such an ambitious project in Northern Alaska. As one of the first projects to emerge from the University of Bern’s Humanities in Arctic Research platform, the early findings point to significant archaeological discoveries that will expand our understanding of prehistoric human-environment interactions in the Brooks Range.
In addition to contributing to academic knowledge, this field survey allowed me to grow professionally as an Arctic archaeologist. Collaborating with local authorities and indigenous communities broadened my expertise and strengthened my network, laying foundations for future research opportunities. I look forward to publishing the first results and continuing to explore the region’s rich prehistory. I’m deeply grateful to the SPI for the opportunity to lead this field survey, which has not only fulfilled a personal dream but also promises to contribute valuable insights into the archaeology of the Brooks Range.
Noah Steuri is an archaeologist at the Humanities in Arctic Research group at the University of Bern. His field trip took place in summer 2024 with financial support from a Polar Access Fund.