A major discovery was made by archaeologists from the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository: fragments of woven grass artifacts, believed to be 3,000 years outdated. These items had been unearthed in August, 2023, at an ancestral sod dwelling website close to Karluk Lake on Kodiak Island. The invention showcases the oldest recognized proof of Kodiak Alutiiq/Sugpiaq weaving.

Patrick Saltonstall, the Alutiiq Museum’s Curator of Archaeology, make clear the discover:

“Our staff was finding out an ancestral sod home subsequent to Karluk Lake to discover the dwelling habits of the Alutiiq folks in Kodiak’s inside. We discovered {that a} fireplace had precipitated the home to break down. Apparently, the wooden-lined partitions of the home fell inward, rapidly sealing and partially shielding the ground. This preserved charred weaving fragments, which recommend that grass mats as soon as adorned the dwelling’s ground. The remnants had been primarily concentrated on the home’s rear, possible a sleeping space.”

Life and Crafts of the Kodiak Alutiiq Individuals

The Kodiak Alutiiq, also called Sugpiaq, are an indigenous folks native to the Kodiak Archipelago, a bunch of islands off the southern coast of Alaska. For hundreds of years, the Kodiak Alutiiq have thrived on this area, growing a wealthy maritime tradition deeply linked to the ocean and its ample assets. Their subsistence way of life revolved round searching, fishing, and gathering, with an emphasis on whaling and the harvesting of marine mammals like sea otters and seals.

Crafts and traditions play a big position in Kodiak Alutiiq tradition. Their expert artisans are recognized for his or her intricate woodwork, particularly in crafting kayaks and instruments, and for his or her detailed weaving practices.

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Seal decoy helmet, Alutiiq, Kodiak Island, earlier than 1869. Exhibit from the Native American Assortment, Peabody Museum. (CC0)

Historical Artisan Apply of the Alutiiq Tradition

Utilizing supplies like grass and spruce roots, the Alutiiq folks crafted baskets, mats, and hats, every with particular patterns that advised distinct tales or represented household lineages.

Whereas weaving has at all times been an integral a part of Alutiiq tradition, archaeological proof has been restricted as a result of natural supplies degrade over time. The Alutiiq Museum does have baskets fabricated from grass and spruce root in its assortment, however these are solely about 600 years outdated. Radiocarbon courting suggests the newly found remnants date again 3,000 years, making this a groundbreaking discover.

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Alutiiq dancer sporting artisanal cloths and hat in the course of the biennial “Celebration” cultural occasion. (Public Domain)

April Laktonen Counceller, Government Director of the museum, commented:

“Our ancestors most likely started utilizing plant fibers for crafting the second they set foot on Kodiak round 7500 years in the past. Vegetation, being extensively obtainable and simply processed, had been excellent for crafting important gadgets. This discovery pushes our understanding of Alutiiq weaving historical past again by a whopping 2400 years.”

The weaving type noticed within the fragments consisted of lengthy, parallel grass strands (the warp) with perpendicular twining (the weft). This open weave sample resonates with historic Alutiiq grass mat designs. Some intricate braided fragments might need been the mat’s completed edge.

After the cautious extraction, the fragile woven items are actually safely housed on the Alutiiq Museum’s laboratory in Kodiak. They are going to bear preservation and documentation processes, facilitated by Koniag — the native company representing Kodiak Alutiiq folks, which additionally sponsored the excavation. Koniag holds possession of the excavation website and has at all times been a beneficiant patron of regional archaeological endeavors.

Moreover, mask-making and dance have been important parts of their cultural and non secular expressions. These masks, usually comprised of wooden, feathers, and paint, symbolize numerous spirits and beings from their beliefs and are historically utilized in ceremonial dances, narrating ancestral tales and connecting the dwelling with the non secular realm.

Koniag President, Shauna Hegna, commented, “Such findings underscore the creativity and enduring spirit of our Alutiiq ancestors. We’re proud to collaborate with the Alutiiq Museum on such impactful tasks.”

The Alutiiq Museum stands as a beacon for conserving and selling the wealthy heritage of the Alutiiq, an indigenous Alaskan tribe. It operates with the steerage of Kodiak Alutiiq organizations and is sustained via donations, memberships, grants, and gross sales.

Prime picture: Woven grass mat fragments, roughly 3,000 years outdated, extracted from an ancestral Kodiak Alutiiq dwelling close to Karluk Lake.       Supply: Alutiiq Museum

By Gary Manners