2017 Excavations at McDonald Creek (FAI-2043), A Multicomponent, Open-Air Site in the Tanana Flats Training Area, Fort Wainwright, Central Alaska

Summary

In 2013 our team began a 3-year testing project to assess the research potential of the recently-discovered McDonald Creek archaeological site (FAI-2043). The site is located in the Tanana Flats of Central Alaska south of Fairbanks. Site testing indicated a well-stratified and reasonably preserved multicomponent site situated in unconsolidated eolian sand and silt deposits atop an ancient alluvial landform. Three cultural components have been identified so far, dating to the early Allerød, Younger Dryas, and Middle Holocene intervals, respectively. Thousands of archaeological materials, including lithic debris and faunal and floral remains, associated with domestic features such as hearths and possible dwellings abound in the lower two components.

In June and July of 2017 we began large-scale block excavation of the site in an area where we found living floor debris during the testing phase of the project. We excavated 21 m2 through the Younger Dryas-aged living floor. Here we report results from the 2017 field season as well as preliminary analyses of various material remains from work conducted to date.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20729