Find at Denali Turns Out to be Prehistoric Hunting Artifact
Last month, children in a hiking group at Denali National Park & Preserve were exploring and playing with with objects on a Teklanika River gravel bar. One of the youngsters found a thin, stick-like object that has turned out to be a prehistoric hunting artifact. This rare find now gives scientists an opportunity to learn more about early Athabascan Indian occupancy of interior Alaska.
The object was about 12 inches long and seemed as if it had been shaped by human hands. It turned out to be an arrow foreshaft carved from an antler. The fact is hadn't decomposed or wear away over the years is incredible.
A sample from this artifact will be submitted for lab analysis. Similar objects found elsewhere have been radio carbon-dated in the range of 100 to 1,100 years old.
Though park officials were thrilled that the child brought the find to them in fear of being washed away, keep in mind that all artifacts on public lands are protected under federal law, and park visitors who find them should leave them alone.
I’d like to know more details about what conditions exactly kept this antler so well preserved and protected from the elements of natural decomposition for hundreds of years.
Hi Erica,
It is believed that the piece may have been buried in the river bank and washed down to where it was found. If it had been on the surface, it likely would have deteriorated quickly or been scooped up by an animal.