Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 08/03/2008 - 06:19
Forums
Nuvuk Archaeology Studies

Hi there!

I found it very interesting that you and your team have decided to explore that are before it gets taken over by the ocen. I was just wondering, on the overview page, it states that there are very shallow graves. I am just wondering, so far, from the remains that you have found, what have they been? How old have they dated back to be? Does it look like any animals have roamed in that area and fed on the remains? Thank you and have a great safe trip.

Elizabeth Petito

Sun, 08/03/2008 - 07:23

Frank Kelley

Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for checking the site and asking good questions. The erosion continues to be a challenge with our work. The feature or area we are working in right now is about 5m (15') from the ocean, when a storm kicks up, the water is about 2m (6') away. Right now, we are working on a driftwood site, with other human activities going on in it too. We have found wood that was changed or worked by humans, burnt pieces of wood, and other wood pieces.
The burials are shallow in part due to the permafrost. It is a little deeper out on the Point, about 1m (3'), back here in town with soil and grass still in place, the permafrost is only 40cm (16") below the surface. It is very difficult to dig through permafrost so that is probably one of the reasons the graves are shallow.
The burials are all human remains. Animal and wood are there too, the theory is that the pieces were used to hold the gravel out of the site while the deceased was placed in the site. Sea and land animals have visited the site, we have found bones and tissue remains in with the human remains. 
I don't know if there are signs of animal activity on the human bones, I will have to check that. 
Archaeology is a fascinating field, lots of great discoveries, and still plenty of questions. Thanks for joining our expedition. There will be more pictures of burials and discussions of our findings on Tues. Aug 5th. Sign up for the Live From IPY Event on the PolarTREC website.
Thanks, Frank 
 

Wed, 11/17/2010 - 06:57

Anonymous

Been reading up on this site for a couple of days now. I under stand that they have found more things in the past few years of your guys project. What i wantted to know is how was this suppost to change are views of are past ancestors of what we know now or dont really know yet. The town was talking like what they have found was suppost to change are way of life here in the arctic. What have they found diffent that we didnt now know of yet. This is what we would like to know.Please do a update on this site of your findings. Also would like to thank you guys for all your hard work in trying to help up know alittle more of are past from are
ancestors. A community member who is concerned on what they have found in the recent findings at nuvuk.

Wed, 11/17/2010 - 11:18

Frank Kelley

Hi Guest,Thanks for the reminder about updating the site. I've had that on my list of things to do for quite some time. The updates will be mostly about archaeology work I have been doing down here in VT. The projects have involved native sites that were used for tool making as well as for summer living areas. In each, there have been numerous stone flakes, tools, projectile points, and burnt wood fragments. I'll put up pictures and a journal entry soon.
It sounds like you are looking for more information about what has gone on up at the Nuvuk site, as well as other areas that were being investigated in the Barrow area. My knowledge of the past few summer's work is much like yours. I believe Dr. Anne Jensen has been at work up there, but I do not know what they were working on or what was discovered.
A summary of the work that Dr. Jensen and her colleagues has done would probably be your best resource to help answer your very good questions. I'll see if I can get some information from her and craft up a journal entry to address the work of the last few summers.
You asked really good questions and I hope to be able to answer them soon. In the meantime, keep learning about native heritage and asking good questions.
Best wishes,
Frank Kelley
Chester, VT