DISCOVERY OF POTENTIAL MARINE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT EARLY HUMAN COASTAL MIGRANTS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA

Recent research at Bering Glacier’s recessional area demonstrates that potential marine resources were available for human migrants along the northern Gulf of Alaska coast as early as 13,000 BP.

Bering Glacier, the largest glacier along the northern Gulf of Alaska coastal migration route, has been steadily retreating since its 1993-95 surge event. In areas uncovered by retreat, discovery of marine shells melted from blocks of sediment that were eroded from the glacier’s bed and transported to its terminus, indicate that areas currently occupied by both the freshwater Vitus Lake and the ice itself, were previously occupied by a marine embayment. This shows that Bering Glacier retreated off the continental shelf into a calving fiord by 13,000 BP, leaving a protected shoreline along islands and coastal areas, similar to Prince William Sound today.

The shells date from 13,000 to 5,000 BP and represent numerous shoreline species that would have been edible to humans. Recently discovered marine mammal bones including metapodials and phalanges of walrus, bearded seal and ringed seal also date to as early as 13,000 BP. These marine mammals are associated with pack ice, whereas only harbor seals inhabit the pack-ice-free area today.

The oldest archaeological sites in the northern Gulf of Alaska date to 8,500 BP, while the oldest sites in southeast Alaska date to 10,500 BP. Older sites may have been drowned by postglacial sea level rise. Although the oldest definitive human use of marine mammal resources in the area do not date until 9,500 BP, our data show that a healthy marine ecosystem of both coastal invertebrates and marine mammals would have been available to any humans trying to migrate the southern Alaskan coastal route.