Archeologists study the material remains of the past. Their work in the Lake Clark region is fascinating, but it can be frustrating - many aspects of the complex technologies of prehistoric people, such as nets, clothing, footwear, and baskets are not preserved in the acidic soils here. More mysterious still are the equally complex spiritual, social and political practices of past communities. Some of these will remain ever shrouded in the past, but others can be revealed through careful, meticulous study and research.

LAKE CLARK PREHISTORY

Sometime after the close of the Last Great Ice Age 14,000 years ago, the first human settlers came to the region that is now Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. The world they inhabited – very different from today – no longer exists. Ice age animals that became extinct around 11,000 years ago may have stilled roamed the landscape, although we have no evidence of this in the Lake Clark area. These nomadic people left few traces of their lifeways and identities. We know that they were highly intelligent and that they adapted to sudden, unpredictable changes in their environment – there have been several significant climatic changes and at least twelve major volcanic eruptions with large earthquakes occurring in twenty to one hundred year intervals over the past 10,000 years.

The earliest hunters camped on knolls (such as those in the picture above) to watch for caribou while shaping and sharpening their tools. Archeologists find lichen-covered and wind-polished tools in exposed areas at high altitude which are fragile and scant evidence left by prehistoric hunters.

Compared to these early sites, archeological sites that date to the last thousand years offer a wealth of information. The remains of houses, caches, fish racks, weirs, and other structures can often be found. Investigating these remains helps archeologists understand the daily life in prehistoric communities.

The ancestors of the Dena’ina Athabascan people now living in the Lake Clark area settled in the region some time before the beginning of the Little Ice Age. The Little Ice Age, a worldwide 500 year long, cold snap from 1350 to 1900 AD, brought cold summers, widespread glacier advances, and sudden shifts in climate.  Corresponding changes in the distribution of important natural resources, such as salmon, must have been challenging. Kijik National Historic Landmark is an important record of Dena’ina people in prehistoric and early historic times.

Sites used by historic trappers, miners, and other Lake Clark residents are now becoming archeological sites. Historic remains can help supplement paper records, and sometimes tell a very different story than the "official" version. Archeologists map, test, and study these sites in much the same way they research prehistoric sites.

All archeological sites in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve are part of our shared national heritage. If you come upon a prehistoric or historic site or structure, please explore, take pictures, and enjoy. Please DO NOT take anything with you. The temptation to pocket an arrowhead or glass bottle can be strong, but remember: once you remove something from the park, it's gone for good, and no one else will ever learn from or enjoy it. Removing artifacts is also illegal. Please be a good steward of history, and leave no trace of your visit.