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Lab number
Beta-11086
Material dated
Charcoal
Locality
Southeast corner of the gates of the Arctic National Park. On the North Fork of the Koyuk River above its confluence with Clear River. Central Brooks Range, AK.
Submitter
Jeff Rasic, NPS
Uploader
A. Martindale
Date uploaded
March 23, 2015
Measured Age
490 ± 80
Significance
culture? (unknown)
Context
20 cm2 test pit excavated to a depth of 23 cm. into the north-central portion of the hearth
Comments
Site contained an obsidian notched point. "Concentration of fire-cracked rock is slightly elevated above the adjacent ground thus delineating its outline. Fire-cracked rock is scattered to the north, toward the dipping northern slope of the site. A single gray chert flake was observed on surface adjacent to the eastern edge of the feature." The test pit revealed a mantle of fire-cracked rock, 0-5 cm., overlying a silt/ash/fire-cracked rock/bone concentration, 6-15 cm below surface. The sediment below this level was predominantly oxidized silt, 16-20 cm, overlying sandy gravel and schist bedrock. The size and character of the hearth suggests more than casual use or possibly several occupational events. Sample: 0.4 g. This sample was given the extended counter time, usual when samples of less than 1.0 grams are submitted. "It is possible that this date is somewhat less reliable than an age yielded from a larger standard sized sample. The radioactive age determination is different enough from that of the obsidian hydration age to consider these artifacts, hearth and biface, as temporally distinct" (Kunz 1985:95).

References