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Join Us
 Alisha Blondin with a slate lance from Salonie Mound |
Do you like working outdoors?
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What's it like?
April Counceller excavates at the Outlet Site |
Modern archaeology on Kodiak is not like the movies - but it does require an adventurous spirit. Rain, bugs, and lots of dirt are part of the daily experience of our volunteers. But if you do mind wearing rain gear and having the charcoal of ancient campfires under your finger nails, and if beautiful scenery, new friends, and unique discoveries sound exciting, then you will enjoy Community Archaeology.
Who knows what's you might find . . . What I have learned working for the museum was to be patient (it’s always okay to work slowly) and ask questions on what we found in the excavation. I had also learned that these people in the past were very smart to build the houses that had lasted for many years, and knew what kind of materials to build with and how to keep warm during the fall and winter seasons. -Tristan Kewan, 2004 site intern |
Digging
Muddy excavators at work at Zaimka Mound
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Each year the Alutiiq Museum chooses a site to study near the city of Kodiak, and gains permission from the landowner for research. Then, volunteers work beside professional archaeologists – removing sod and volcanic ash falls with shovels and exploring the layers of ancient camp sites with hand held digging tools – trowels and dust pans. Every excavator works in their own square to preserve information on the location of artifacts in the site. No previous experience is necessary. We will show you what to do. We ask that all volunteers spend a full day at the site on their first day, for training. After that volunteers are welcome for a half day.
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Finding
 Shawn Biessel screening |
Participants dig with anticipation, wondering who will be the next to unearth an ancient object. It might be an artifact – a delicate chipped stone point or a lance blade ground from slate. Or, it might be an animal bone, the remains of a fish or seal. Small objects are hard to see in the dirt, so participants sieve all the dirt they remove to find tiny objects. |
Debbie Staggs uncovers a 6,000 year old hearth
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Not all finds are objects. One goal of the program is to study structures – the houses, sheds, pits and hearths that also record past activities. Excavator work to uncover these larger finds, so they can be mapped and photographed. |
Recording
Mapping at Zaimka Mound
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Mapping the archaeological finds is a chance for instruction. Participants help the archaeologists plot the dimensions of features uncovered in the site and record the depth of each layer with surveying instruments. Students and interns must also keep notebooks describing field methods, finds, and interpretations. |
Preserving
Bronwyn Lyman holds portions of a slate lance
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There are more than 900 prehistoric archaeological sites in the Kodiak region, and ever year, vandals damage some through recreational digging and artifact collecting. These illegal activities are stealing Alutiiq history and disturbing sites so they cannot be meaningfully studied. Community Archaeology provides the public with the opportunity to experience archaeology in a positive way. Many of our volunteers become long-term supporters of historic preservation – and some go on to study archaeology.
Collections from the project are loaned to the Alutiiq Museum for study by their owners. At the museum, volunteers assist archaeologists in washing, organizing, cataloging and storing the objects, so they can be studied and displayed. |
Learning
Excavators begin work at Bruhn Point
overlooking Womens Bay
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Over the past 15 years, the Community Archaeology program has studied eight sites in the greater Womens Bay region, adding to our knowledge of Alutiiq prehistory. Together these sites are helping us to understand how Alutiiqs used different environments – the banks of the Buskin River, the windy water around Cliff Point, the islands at the eastern entrance to Chiniak Bay, and the quiet inner bay. They also show us how Alutiiq communities changed over time.
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The 2012 Project
 Carmen Ceron at the Amak Site, 2011 |
COMMON QUESTIONS
WHERE IS THIS SUMMER'S DIG? Participants should plan to spend one full day at the dig on their first visit. Half days can be scheduled after a day of training.
CAN I PARTICIPATE IF I AM NOT FROM KODIAK? Yes. The museum is happy to include out-of-town volunteers. However, we do not provide assistance with housing, transportation, or other necessities like food, showers, and laundry. Out-of-town volunteer must plan to be self-sufficient. |
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Excavations at the Amak site, 2011 |
WHAT DO I BRING?
WHAT WILL I DO? |
Thanks!
Jill Lipka in a circle of stones
uncovered at the Amak site, 2011
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Quyanaa! Our thanks to the many organizations, volunteers, students, interns, and museum staff members who have helped to make community archaeology a great success. Program supporters have included:
Kodiak Historical Society Baranov Museum
Kodiak Island Borough Kodiak Island Borough School District Koniag, Inc. Leisnoi, Inc. Natives of Kodiak, Inc. U.S. Coast Guard Communication Station Kodiak University of Alaska Fairbanks |
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