Archaeology

Month

Alaska Archaeology Month History

The concept of Archaeology Week, initiated in Arizona in 1983 with overwhelming public approval, has now been adopted by nearly every state in the union. Alaska Archaeology Week, initiated in 1990, has been expanded from one week to a month-long celebration with events planned by local organizers from Kotzebue to Ketchikan every April. These programs include evening public lectures and slide shows, hands-on activities for kids, museum displays and tours. The Public Education Committee for the Alaska Anthropological Association provides statewide sponsorship for Alaska Archaeology Month.

The most visual reminder of Archaeology Week/Month has been the annual poster, distributed to every school in the state by the National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, National Register Programs. We are one of the federal agencies that contribute staff time and funding to ensure that these public programs, generally free of charge and open to all, continue around the state.

One popular event scheduled in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Dutch Harbor during the last five years has been the annual Alaska atlatl competition. Although the atlatl, also known as a spear-thrower, is an ancient artifact found in sites worldwide, it continued to be used in some places in Alaska until very recent times. Using an atlatl, an experienced hunter can throw a spear up to 300 feet, often with considerable accuracy. Kids and adults have braved the still-chilly April temperatures in Alaska to test their prowess in these recent atlatl competitions.

In addition to planning special Archaeology Month events, our staff also visits classrooms in the Anchorage School District and elsewhere in the state throughout the school year to deliver curriculum-based programs to the kids. For more information contact Becky Saleeby at 907-644-3477 or Susan Bender at 907-644-3459.