Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 07/27/2008 - 13:53
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Nuvuk Archaeology Studies

  Mr. Kelley,

    I have read your journals and they are very interesting. I enjoyed looking at the photo gallery. Thank you for capturing the local buildings on camera, they provide insight into the life of the city. 

    Have any human remains besides bone pieces been collected? Or is it only to possible to preserve bones after such a long period of time at the temperatures found at this location? 

Thank you,

Marina Arbit

marbit [at] ucla.edu

 

 

Sun, 07/27/2008 - 15:48

Frank Kelley

Hi Marina,
You have a beautiful name, the same as my daughter!!
In response to your question, the human remains we find most of the time are bones. I checked with my colleagues in #268, they mentioned that there have been a few rare finds that did involve skin, muscle, and connecting tissue. They also have found that there can be residue left in some of the burials that might be indicative of tissue. I have not been part of a successful burial mound excavation yet, so my first hand knowledge is limited.
The Driftwood Feature has turned up some animal bones and some probable seal intestines which the Inupiat's used as a window covering.
The reason the artifacts have been preserved so well is that many of them were in ice/ permafrost. We have encountered that layer, about 1.75 meters below the surface. Remains in the ice are very well preserved.
Thanks for reading the journal entries and asking such a good question. Hope you can join the Live From IPY Event on Aug. 5th 3PM ADT, 4 PM PDT.
Best,
Frank