Archaeological Excavations at Shég' Xdaltth'i' Reveal Human Life in Beringia 13,800 Years Ago
- Site Chronology: The excavation revealed three distinct archaeological layers dating to 13,800, 13,000, and 12,700 years ago, offering a timeline of settling behavior in the far north.
- Dietary Evidence: Findings include evidence of megafauna hunting, specifically mammoth, bison, and horse, alongside caribou, with stone anvils and hammerstones used to process bones for marrow and grease.
- Cultural Connections: The discovery of unique diamond-shaped bifacial points links the Alaskan site to similar artifacts found in Russia, suggesting human migration across the Bering Land Bridge.
The Context & Background
This research project, directed by Graf, has involved annual field expeditions since 2013 to the site overlooking the Tanana River. The site's name, Shég' Xdaltth'i', translates to "they were there" in the Alaska Native Athabascan language, honoring the deep history of the region's original inhabitants.
Key takeaway:These findings provide critical evidence of how early humans adapted to extreme Ice Age environments and confirm the migratory patterns between Asia and North America. By analyzing these ancient base camps, scientists gain a clearer understanding of the technological and social evolution that allowed hunter-gatherer societies to thrive in the challenging conditions of the late Pleistocene.
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