On Your Knees Cave
Terry Fifield, archaeologist for the Prince of Wales
Island Districts of the Tongass National Forest, in the mouth
of On Your Knees Cave in 1997 before site area clearing
for the excavation had begun. (The photo was taken by Eric
Parrish of the Denver Museum of Natural History.)
Efforts to study “On Your Knees Cave,” an intriguing archaeological
and paleontological site in the Tongass National Forest of
southeast Alaska, have grown into an extraordinary partnership between
researchers, local and regional Alaska Native organizations, and the
Forest Service. Investigating the site’s clues about the earliest
known human occupation of south-coastal Alaska, the partners have discovered
new information about the peopling of the Americas, early maritime adaptations,
and Ice Age ecology and glacial history of the Northwest Coast. A strong
relationship based on openness and trust, and a shared research philosophy
that is both culturally-inclusive and interdisciplinary, have been critical
elements in the success of the partnership.
The Partnership Comes Together
The On Your Knees Cave site was initially recorded in 1993
by Harza Inc. and Kevin Allred of the Tongass Cave Project.
Paleontological investigations at the cave began in 1994
with the recovery by Dr. Timothy Heaton (Professor of Earth
Science at the University of South Dakota) of two bear bones
(one black and one brown bear), which were radiocarbon dated
to more than 35,000 years old. Continuing their work in 1996,
Heaton’s crew happened upon a small number of cultural
items: a stone spear point, two bone tools, and several human
bones, including a complete human jaw. These human remains
were radiocarbon dated to 10,300 calendar years ago.
Archaeologist, Dr. E. James Dixon (left), of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Paleontologist, Dr. Timothy Heaton, of the University of South Dakota at Vermillion resting outside the cave. (Photo by Terry Fifield).
Sensitive to the cultural implications of the discovery for Alaska
Native Tribes, the Forest Service consulted immediately with Tribal representatives.
This step helped to prevent tensions between scientists’ desire
to study ancient remains and native cultures’ beliefs about the
sacredness and proper treatment of such remains. At the same time, other
researchers were notified of the discoveries. Dr. E. James Dixon, Professor
of Archaeology and Museum Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder
and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, stepped forward with
offers to curate, preserve, and study the specimens and to take on an
archaeological study of the site.
By late summer of 1996 many of the partners in the project
were in place. Terry Fifield, Forest Service archaeologist
for the Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger District, was leading
the consultation and collaborative efforts. Tribal presidents
in the communities of Klawock and Craig had met several times
with their Councils and passed resolutions supporting the
analysis and further study. Dr. Dixon prepared a grant proposal
for a 1997 archaeological excavation at the cave, which would
include funding for Native student interns, while Dr. Heaton
planned his 1997 fieldwork to further investigate the paleontological
aspects of the cave.
Research Begins on the Ground
Sabrina Demmert was one of the first Native student interns with the project. In 1997 Sabrina, representing the Klawock Cooperative Association, worked with the archaeology crew for about a month after her graduation from Klawock High School. Today Sabrina has completed a Masters in Education and is teaching Special Education at the Klawock City School District. (Photo by Craig Lee, Denver Museum of Natural History).
In 1997, the staging began of what is now recognized as a remarkable
field camp. Archaeological and paleontological crews worked
side by side, focusing on their respective interests but integrating
their methods to allow data sharing. Alaska Native interns, selected
by the Klawock and Craig Tribal Councils and funded through Dixon’s
National Science Foundation grant, worked with scientists to clear the
site and begin excavations. Over the winter of 1997/1998, Sealaska Inc.
and Sealaska Heritage Institute offered to fund internships for the following
season. These internships provided Alaska Native youths with a remarkable
learning experience and further strengthened the relationship between
the research team and the Tribes.
For five field seasons between 1997 and 2004, these partners
continued their groundbreaking research. Investigations,
which began inside the cave, moved to the terrace outside
the cave where archaeologists uncovered stone tools and the
remains of a camp contemporary with the human remains. Many
additional partners – organizations, institutions,
and individuals – supported the project, including
the Tongass National Forest Geology program, the Port Protection
Community Association, the Organized Village of Kake, and
the Petersburg & Wrangell Districts of the Tongass National
Forest.
The discoveries at On Your Knees Cave have enormous implications
for our understanding of how and when early cultures peopled
the Americas and have also shed light on the Ice Age ecology
and glacial history of the region. This exciting research,
which is now changing scientific views of early post-Ice
Age environments and culture on the Northwest Coast, has
generated international interest. The site has been featured
in several documentaries and popular magazine articles.
Partners Seek Opportunities for Education and Outreach
 Microblades,
small slivers of rock are some of the earliest artifacts found
on the Northwest Coast. At On Your Knees Cave microblades of
obsidian, quartz, and chert are found in occupation layers
dated to between 9,700 and 10,300 years ago, and suggest a
deep and extensive knowledge of the region's resources by the
time hunters first used this cave.
To increase the opportunities for public education about the site and
its significance, the On Your Knees Cave partners have made
the research project fully accessible to the public. A policy
of open access to the site was in place throughout the five seasons of
fieldwork. This provided residents and visitors with a unique opportunity
to visit an important archaeological and paleontological site, speak
with researchers, and share in the exciting discoveries underway. In
this way, visitors seeking the Tongass National Forest’s spectacular
vistas and wildlife viewing opportunities gained additional awareness
about the human history of the area.
Recognizing the importance of this research and the significant
precedent set by the positive cross-cultural and interdisciplinary
working relationships, the partners, with support from the
National Park Service, are producing a documentary video
highlighting the research and partnerships. The video will
explore the challenges posed by working together and the
elements, which have led to a productive project with benefits
for all partners.
For more information, you can visit:
Terry Fifield, Archaeologist
Prince of Wales Island Districts
Tongass National Forest
PO Box 500
Craig, AK 99921
(907) 826-1642/826-2972 (fax) |
PARTNERING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE
