Posted in Alaska July 13, 2022 by

The Prehistoric Site In Alaska That Still Baffles Archaeologists To This Day

Alaska is well known for its natural history, but many people don’t realize the long, human presence in this great state. Located in northwestern Alaska is a prehistoric site in Alaska called Raven Bluff, where the tools of people from 12,000 years ago were found. This incredible site gives us a peek into the past, and the people who lived here so many years ago.

There’s a spot in northwestern Alaska that has been discovered as an important prehistoric site.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
Located on the bluff above the Kivalina River, this site is home to a glimpse into the past, and the people who lived here. Discovered in 2007, it’s a treasure trove of information about the people who lived here 12,000 years ago.
The bluff is around 100 miles north of Kotzebue, located on the very edge of the Chukchi Sea and the De Long Mountains.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
Located on an eroded, limestone bluff, its surface is tundra that’s dotted with grasses, berries, and moss. It’s a beautiful, remote area, that is rich with varied vegetation.
In 2007, Bureau of Land Management archaeologist Bill Hedman and his crew discovered the Raven Bluff site.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
They were conducting surveys to learn more about the Bering Land Bridge between Russia and North America. They estimate that what they found on Raven Bluff may have been left when the Bering Land Bridge still existed, almost 13,000 years ago.
There was a scatter of tools and animal bones, suggesting that the people moving through the area were hunters.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
Experts believe that bison lived in the area 12,000 years ago. Fluted points that looked like sharp spearheads were found at the site, letting us learn a little more about the first people in the area.
From 2009 to 2012, archaeologists with the Bureau of Land Management worked with the National Park Service and the University of Alaska Museum of the North to conduct several excavations at Raven Bluff.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
Archaeologists had to transport gear and personnel each year by helicopter. The remote location meant the archaeologists had to establish a base camp to help support their research.
Now the Museum of the North sends archaeologists to analyze the tools and artifacts found at Raven Bluff.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
They continue to study how the first people of this great land crossed the Bering Land Bridge, and created a home in North America. It’s a fascinating history of some of the first peoples of Alaska.
Alaska is an absolutely fascinating place with thousands upon thousands of years of incredible history.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
The great people who have stewarded the land for time immemorial have left us a peek into their lives. And it’s an interesting one, too!

Did you know about this prehistoric site in Alaska? What do you think? Is it absolutely fascinating? Let us know in the comments below!

If you love Alaska’s history, make sure to check out Visit This Natural History Museum In Alaska For The Perfect Day Trip.

Address: Kivalina River, Alaska, USA