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上的高山凯恩斯进行的探索性研究。这是一项考古调查，邀请考古学、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(人工排列堆积的岩石或石堆)进行多学科研究。国际保护协会认为，在探索该地区的高地考古方面所做的工作很少，对凯恩遗址的功能也一无所知。据推测，这些建筑被用来打猎百叶窗、埋葬、界标等。研究小组建议对这些地点进行调查，并对选定的凯恩进行拆解，以获得关于它们的年龄和功能的数据。它还将收集该地区特林吉特长老的口述历史，以确定他们对高山地区凯恩斯山脉传统特林吉特活动的了解程度，也许还会对它们的功能有一些见解。该项目将恢复与阿拉斯加东南部山区凯恩斯山脉的年龄、功能和分布有关的数据。凯恩斯似乎在阿拉斯加的这一地区相当普遍，但它们的分布、具体的地形环境和功能仍不清楚。这项调查有可能纳入更广泛的研究议程，考察狩猎和采集群体中社会复杂性的演变，揭示早期北美原住民的社会和文化组织。此外，该项目将测试一种创新的方法，地衣测量法，用于测定这些岩石山脉遗址的年代；此外，该项目还是一个创新项目，将考古学和口述历史方法和数据结合在一起，为这些结构提供新的见解。最后，该项目包括与美国林务局(USFS)和对该项目发现的数据感兴趣的当地阿拉斯加原住民社区的合作伙伴关系。土著社区对更多地了解他们的祖先非常感兴趣。外地工作队将包括土著高中生和/或大学生，并将通过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用于制定其保护、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.