The Tingmiukpuk site (KIR-273): a prehistoric site along the Killik River, Alaska

Thesis (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2002Tingmiukpuk (KIR-273), a prehistoric archaeological site, lies in a dune field on the east bank of the Killik River in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The site consists of several surface scatters of cultural material on and around three large dune prominences. Field research was conducted during the summers of 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1999. Diagnostic artifacts and dates on surface faunal material suggest the presence of two archaeological components: one belonging to the American Paleoarctic tradition, and one to the Arctic Small Tool tradition. Artifacts and faunal material suggest that the site was used for processing caribou (including breaking bones for marrow and grease extraction). A variety of lithic tools associated with the hunting and processing of caribou were recorded, but most were manufactured off-site. The manufacturing of expedient tools (scrapers and utilized flakes), blades, and microblades was the primary lithic production activity at the site