Nuvuk, Point Barrow, Alaska: The Thule Cemetery and Ipiutak Occupation

This study presents a revised cultural chronology for the Nuvuk site, Point Barrow, Alaska. It is based on results of 10 years of work at the site, including the Nuvuk Archaeology Project. First, the history and results of prior ethnographic and archaeological research on the North Slope are reviewed, with an emphasis on material pertaining to coastal North Alaska. Nuvuk is set in environmental context, and the results of geomorphological research associated with this project are presented. Secondly, the findings of the pre-contact portion of the excavations are described. Notable results of this work include a previously unsuspected Ipiutak occupation, and a previously undocumented Thule occupation with an associated large cemetery. In addition, brief descriptions of various midden and activity areas resulting from the post-contact occupation of the site are provided. The detailed results of the 63 Thule burial excavations conducted to date are presented as an appendix. Finally, the implications of the presence of Ipiutak and Thule at the Nuvuk site for the chronology of the site itself, as well as the broader chronologies of the Barrow area and the North Slope are detailed. The implications of this revised chronology for interpretation of Ipiutak and for the question of Thule origins are discussed.本研究基于在阿拉斯加巴罗角（Point Barrow）努武克遗址（Nuvuk site）开展的长达10年的考古工作（含努武克考古项目（Nuvuk Archaeology Project））的成果，提出了该遗址修订后的文化年代序列。 首先，本文回顾了北极坡（North Slope）地区既往民族志与考古学研究的历史与成果，重点聚焦阿拉斯加北海岸相关研究材料；同时阐明了努武克遗址的环境背景，并介绍了本项目配套的地貌学研究结果。 其次，本文详述了发掘工作前接触期（pre-contact）的考古发现。本项工作的重要成果包括此前未被认知的伊皮乌塔克文化（Ipiutak）居住遗存，以及一处此前未见记载的图勒文化（Thule）居住遗存及其伴生大型墓地。此外，本文还简要介绍了该遗址后接触期（post-contact）人类活动遗留的各类贝丘（midden）与活动区域遗迹。截至目前完成的63处图勒文化墓葬发掘的详细成果，将以附录形式呈现。 最后，本文详细探讨了努武克遗址出土伊皮乌塔克与图勒文化遗存，对该遗址自身年代序列、巴罗地区乃至北极坡地区区域年代框架的意义。同时讨论了本次修订的年代序列对伊皮乌塔克文化研究的解读价值，以及图勒文化起源相关问题的学术启示。