Pilot Project: A Multidisciplinary Exploratory Study of Alpine Cairns, Baranof Island, Southeast Alaska

这个试点项目是对阿拉斯加东南部巴拉诺夫岛高山凯恩斯的探索性研究。这是一项考古调查，涉及考古学，植物学和民族史领域的专家，对阿拉斯加东南部的高地凯恩斯（人工排列的堆叠岩石或土丘）进行多学科研究。PI认为，很少有人对该地区的高地考古学进行探索，对石堆遗址的功能一无所知。据推测，这些结构被用于狩猎百叶窗，埋葬，边界标记等，研究小组建议调查的网站和拆卸选定的凯恩斯，以获得他们的年龄和功能的数据。该项目还将收集该地区特林吉特老人的口述历史，以确定他们对高山地区特林吉特传统活动的了解程度，以及对它们功能的一些见解。该项目将恢复与阿拉斯加东南部山脉上的凯恩斯的年龄，功能和分布有关的数据。凯恩斯似乎在阿拉斯加的这个地区相当普遍，但它们的分布、具体地形环境和功能仍然未知。这项调查有可能成为一个更广泛的研究议程，探讨狩猎和采集群体之间的社会复杂性的演变，揭示了早期土著北美社会和文化组织。此外，该项目还将测试一种创新的方法，地衣测量法，用于测定这些石堆遗址的年代;此外，该项目还将结合考古学和口述历史方法和数据，为这些结构提供新的见解。最后，该项目还包括与美国林务局（USFS）和对该项目发现的数据感兴趣的当地阿拉斯加土著社区的合作。土著社区对更多地了解他们的祖先非常感兴趣。当地高中和/或大学生将被纳入实地小组，通过PI和部落联络员之间的每日/每周信息交流，加强与部落领导人的沟通。调查数据将被USFS用于制定保护，保存和解释其高山文化资源的计划。

This pilot project is an exploratory study of alpine cairns on Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska. This is an archeological investigation engaging experts in the fields of archaeology, botany, and ethnohistory in a multidisciplinary study of upland cairns (artificial arrangements of stacked rocks or mounds of stones) in southeastern Alaska. The PI argues that very little has been done to explore the upland archaeology of the region and nothing is known about the functions of the cairn sites. It has been hypothesized that these structures were used for hunting blinds, burials, boundary markers, etc. The research team proposes to survey the sites and disassemble selected cairns in order to gain data on their age and function. It will also gather oral history from Tlingit elders in the region to determine the extent of their knowledge about traditional Tlingit activities in the alpine areas, the cairns, and perhaps some insights into their function.The project will recover data relating to ages, functions, and distributions of cairns on mountains Southeast Alaska. Cairns appear to be quite prevalent in this region of Alaska but their distribution, specific topographic settings, and functions remains unknown. This investigation has the potential to feed into a much broader research agenda that examines the evolution of social complexity among hunting and gathering groups, one that sheds light on early native North American social and cultural organization. In addition, the project will test an innovative methodology, lichenometry, for dating these rock cairn sites; and is in addition, an innovative project that brings together archaeology and oral historic methods and data to provide new insights on these structures.Finally, the project includes partnerships with the US Forest Service (USFS) and local Alaska Native communities interested in the data uncovered by the project. Native communities are very interested in learning more about their ancestors. Native high school and/or college students will be included in the field team and communications with tribal leadership will be enhanced through daily/weekly information exchanges between the PI and tribal liaisons. Investigative data will be utilized by the USFS in developing their plan for protection, preservation and interpretation of their alpine cultural resources.