A cache pit dating back 1,000 years has been discovered in Alaska, offering insights into the food preservation techniques of ancient indigenous people. Archaeologists unearthed the birchbark-lined pit, revealing clues about the past lives of the Dene people.
A cache pit dating back approximately 1,000 years was unearthed in Alaska last year, according to recent revelations from military officials. This discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into the food storage practices of the past.
Archaeologists from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Northern Land Use Research Alaska, and local tribal councils uncovered the birchbark-lined cache pit along the Upper Cook Inlet in June, as stated in a December 6 news release from the Alaska military complex where the find was made. Cache pits, similar to root cellars, were employed to preserve fish, meat, and berries, explained archaeologist Elizabeth Ortiz. These caches were strategically dug into well-drained soils and lined with birchbark and layers of grasses to ensure optimal food preservation. Intact examples of these pits are incredibly rare. Initial radiocarbon dating indicated that the food storage pit was utilized roughly 1,000 years ago. The pit was found along a trail well-known for its historical use by the region's indigenous Dene people. It measured approximately 3½ feet in depth, according to researchers.The Dene, or Athabascan, people are a linguistic group spanning from the Alaskan interior through Canada and into the American Southwest. Athabascans, including the Dena'ina and Ahtna people, speak Dene languages. This discovery marks the oldest known site on the east side of Upper Cook Inlet and further validates the oral traditions of the Dena'ina and Ahtna people, confirming their long-standing presence in the JBER area and its surroundings, stated archaeologist and JBER cultural resource manager Margan Grover. The majority of the site was unfortunately demolished by the military in 1942, Grover revealed. However, the cache pit and its intact birchbark lining stand as one of the few undisturbed features remaining from the original Dene site.'We are conducting tests to determine the specific types of food stored within the cache,' Ortiz explained. Samples of the well-preserved bark lining are being analyzed to assess the age and contents of the pit. 'Further radiocarbon and stable isotope analyses could yield invaluable new insights into the history of Upper Cook Inlet,' Ortiz added. The team is also exploring what types of food were stored in the cache. Preliminary findings suggest that it was utilized to store either moose or caribou meat. 'Individuals would arrive in the area during the spring and remain through the summer to catch and preserve salmon,' according to the release. Grover emphasized the significance of this discovery, calling it 'an opportunity for people to understand who the Dene of Knik Arm are and how their ancestors lived on the land that is now JBER and Anchorage.
CACHE PIT ALASKA ARCHAEOLOGY DENE PEOPLE FOOD STORAGE ANCIENT HISTORY
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