Polar bears, of course. They hang out around Nuvuk a lot, which is why we always had bear guards. Some days we could see eight at once out on the ice.
#Archaeology31–Day 6–Animal
#Archaeology31–Day 5–Rest
During the short Arctic field season, one rests when one can.
#Archaeology31–Day 4–Place
Place is hard, since there are several sites, so I’m going with North Slope of Alaska.
#Archaeology31–Day 3–#ToolsOfTheTrade
My trusty trowel, since 1997. Marshalltown 4 1/2 in.
#Archaeology31–Day 2–Throwback Thursday
Well, I’m catching up, so this should have been posted Thursday…
#Archaeology31–Day 1–Who Am I?
I am an Arctic archaeologist/anthropologist. I have lived in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska since 1996. I mostly work on Arctic Alaskan coastal sites and sustainability, and spend a lot of time dealing with erosion, although I am a zooarchaeologist at heart. I chair the SAA Committee on Climate Change Strategies and Archaeological Resources.
ICASS X abstract deadline JANUARY 20, 2020 (EXTENDED)
Do you work with some aspect of people and permafrost? There is a session on that topic at ICASS X (Arkhangelsk, June 15-20, 2020). The deadline for abstracts is extended to January 20, 2020!
The session is called “People and Permafrost in a Changing Arctic.” The session abstract shown on the website is a placeholder that hasn’t been updated yet. The up-to-date version is below.
Apply here (under the Abstract Submission link) : https://icass.uni.edu
People and Permafrost in a Changing Arctic
For thousands of years, permafrost has been a constant in most of the Arctic. Communities and lifeways have literally been built on the assumption that it would endure in perpetuity. Now, in response to recent warming trends, permafrost degradation and its numerous societal and environmental impacts are becoming widespread. Coastal bluffs eroding into the sea, roads like washboards or washed away, fill collapsing around pilings supporting public infrastructure, archaeological sites and cultural heritage thawing and rotting, and ice cellars thawing and flooding, are only some of the effects becoming commonplace across the Circumpolar North.
This session will bring together interdisciplinary research focused on changing permafrost and its impacts on people and landscapes as well as human resilience and adaptation in Arctic coastal permafrost areas. We seek to develop synergy between researchers interested in these topics and expand PerCS-Net (Permafrost Coastal Systems Network), an international network of researchers dealing with permafrost systems in transition. We welcome papers covering various aspects of these issues, from identifying new types of social and environmental disruption to monitoring to attempts at adaption. Contributions from community members and holders of Indigenous knowledge and local knowledge and researchers successfully engaging directly with Indigenous communities are particularly welcomed.
Deadline is January 20, 2020.
Apply here (under the Abstract Submission link) : https://icass.uni.edu
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Big City TV looks at Utqiaġvik
About a month ago, Tracey Sinclaire and Beth Verge from Anchorage TV station KTUU came to Utqiagvik to do a number of weather/climate-related stories. One was on the effects of coastal erosion. I took them out toward Nuvuk/Point Barrow as far as seemed prudent for the vehicle I had, and got interviewed. The weather was quite challenging while they were here, but they hung in and got stories on the NOAA site, and the blue football field which is endangered by coastal erosion.
Input needed–Microbial Threats in the Arctic
I’m taking part in a workshop on Health Security Risks from Microbial Threats in the Arctic. I’m looking for any experiences with such, particularly connected to archaeology. Also interested in any published references. Have some, trying to make a better list. Please DM or email me if you can help. I’ll be traveling Sunday & Monday.
Out of Ice and Time 