The Anangula archeological site is located among the Aleutian Islands, which extend southwest outward from the Alaskan peninsula. It is believed to be one of the original homelands of the ancient Eskimo tribe called the Aleuts. The Anangula archeological site is a part of the Anangula island. The Anangula site was first recognized in 1938 by a man with the last name of Laughlin. After the initial discovery, there was no significant research done on the site until 1952. During 1952, R. F. Black and a research team revisited the Anangula Island and did more extensive archeological research. There were a variety of things found in the studies done about the Anangula site.
The contemporary depth of water between the Anangula island and relevant nearby island named Umnak island is about 11 meters deep in parallel to the islands. The much larger Umnak Island is about 5 miles from Anangula Island. Studies have shown that the sea levels of 8,000 years ago were approximately 20 meters less than the contemporary. Therefore there was dry land between the islands. This explains how the people living in the Anangula site were not actually secluded on the small island of Anangula and could easily travel for resources. Evidence shows that the islands all were connected by stable land eastward to the Alaskan peninsula. The Anangula site was located on the southern end of the Anangula Island, which by landscape provides protection from the weather of the Bering ing the island to the north. The landscape surrounding in most other directions protected the site as well.
There were many different artifacts collected and observations made from the Anangula site after the second major visit. B. F. Black visited the Anangula site in 1962 and noticed volcanic ash horizons beneath the surface of the island. Carbon dating techniques determine the age of the layered sediment. Among many other things retrieved from the Anangula site, were the prismatic blades (2-12 cm of length), retouched blades with chipping end, and scraping end. The material for the tools could only come from resources from the Umnak island. The industry of the tools shows a strong resemblance that of some Japanese sites dated 9,000- 13,000 years ago.
References:
Periodical- Call# Q1 Science V. 142 n. 3593 Pg. 633 1963
Periodical- Call# Q1 Science V. 143 n. 3612 Pg. 1321 1964
Author: Derek Schrader