Artifacts Uncovered in Quinhagak, Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska — Recently, parts of a centuries-old mask, preserved in permafrost, have turned up in the mud along the Quinhagak shoreline in western Alaska. The beach has revealed a variety of items, like wooden spoons, toys, and fishing lures, scattered across a vast area.
Yup’ik communities near the Bering Sea largely sidestepped major impacts from Typhoon Halong, which battered nearby regions earlier this month. Still, the communities faced their own challenges. Strong winds and storm surges have eroded significant portions of the coastline, likely washing away thousands of important artifacts.
In the aftermath of the storm that struck Southwest Alaska on October 11 and 12, about 1,000 pieces of debris, including wooden masks and tools, were collected in Quinhagak. However, archaeologist Rick Knecht estimates that up to 100,000 artifacts remain dispersed across the area. This figure aligns with previous recovery counts from the site.
Knecht, who has spent 17 years working on the Nunalek (Old Village) project, characterized the situation as a considerable loss. He noted that this site is home to the largest collection of pre-contact Yup’ik artifacts worldwide and has significantly contributed to understanding Yup’ik life before the arrival of outsiders.
“If there are gaps in your property, it’s like trying to read a book with frayed pages. You miss vital parts,” he remarked. “The bigger the gaps, the weaker the narrative. So far, this story has its share of holes.”
The village’s original name is lost to history, but it is believed to have been attacked and set ablaze by another village around 1650. Knecht has collaborated with local elders to blend traditional knowledge with archaeological research.
With around 800 residents, food gathering holds great importance for the people of Quinhagak.
Knecht pointed out that the storm scattered artifacts that had been long-preserved in the permafrost. He expressed ongoing concerns regarding climate change and its threats to the site, such as melting permafrost, coastal wear, and the potential for increasingly severe storms.
This situation also poses risks to the community itself. Erosion threatens critical infrastructure, including sewage lagoons, residences, and fishing camps. Thawing permafrost has been reported to cause instability and damage to buildings, as noted in a 2024 report from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
The excavation initiative began around 2007 when items started to appear on the beach. Some of the artifacts had previously been excavated from the site.
“We found a large section that was only halfway excavated, but we decided to prioritize areas at the highest risk of erosion,” Knecht explained.
When he visited in July, there was about a 30-foot buffer from the ocean. The storm wiped that out, plus another 30 feet of land. He even noted a large piece of tundra left on the tidal flats, likening it to the size of a piano.
Knecht admitted he didn’t recognize the place immediately after the storm. “All the familiar markers were either gone or significantly altered, so we drove right past at first,” he admitted.
Efforts to treat the recovered items involve soaking the wood to remove salt and applying chemicals that help the pieces bond during the drying process. Once wooden artifacts are removed from the beach, they can break apart quickly if not managed properly.
The local museum in Quinhagak has a lab where these artifacts are preserved. Archaeologists aim to return next spring for a rescue excavation to explore the layers exposed by the storm. Knecht commented that the site now resembles their experience back in 2009, with artifacts emerging all around. “It’s like starting fresh all over again,” he reflected.
