Birnirk site: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Archaeological site in Alaska, United States}}
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{{Infobox nrhp
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
| name =Birnirk Site

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| nrhp_type =nhl
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{{Infobox NRHP
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| image = Ukpeagvik mounds.jpg
| caption = Mounds at the site
| name = Birnirk site
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| nrhp_type = nhl
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| nearest_city= [[Barrow, Alaska]]
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| image = Ukpeagvik mounds.jpg
| locmapin = Alaska
| caption = Mounds at the site
| lat_degrees = 71
| location = {{Address Restricted}}
| lat_minutes = 17
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| nearest_city = [[Utqiagvik, Alaska]]
| lat_seconds = 0
| lat_direction = N
| locmapin =
| coordinates = <!-- address restricted -->
| long_degrees = 156
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| area =
| long_minutes = 45
| long_seconds =0
| architect =
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| architecture =
| long_direction = W
| designated_nrhp_type = December 29, 1962<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=722&ResourceType=Site|title=Birnirk Site|accessdate=2007-11-19|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606080106/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=722&ResourceType=Site|archivedate=2011-06-06}}</ref>
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| area =
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| added = October 15, 1966<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| architect= Unknown
| refnum = 66000953<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
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| architecture= No Style Listed
| designated_other1 = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| designated_nrhp_type= December 29, 1962<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=722&ResourceType=Site
| designated_other1_name = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
|title=Birnirk Site |accessdate=2007-11-19|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| designated_other1_date =
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| added = October 15, 1966<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| designated_other1_color = #A8EDEF
| governing_body = BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
| designated_other1_abbr = AHRS
| refnum=66000953
| designated_other1_number = BAR-001
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
}}
}}


The '''Birnirk Site''' is an [[archaeological site]] near [[Barrow, Alaska]]. It includes sixteen prehistoric mounds which have yielded evidence of very early Birnirk and Thule culture. Some of the remains from this site were at the [[Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology|Peabody Museum]] at [[Harvard University]] and were requested to be returned.<ref name="nhlsum"/>
The '''Birnirk site''' ([[Iñupiaq language|Iñupiaq]]: ''Piġniq'') is an [[archaeological site]] near [[Utqiagvik, Alaska]]. It includes sixteen prehistoric mounds which have yielded evidence of very early [[Birnirk culture|Birnirk]] and [[Thule people|Thule culture]]. It is the [[type site]] of the Birnirk culture, and was designated a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1962 for its archaeological importance in understanding prehistoric Arctic cultures.<ref name="nhlsum"/>


==Description==
Owned by the Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation since 1988
Birnirk is located on the [[Alaska North Slope]], near the settlement of [[Utqiagvik, Alaska|Utqiagvik]], on land owned by the [[Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation]] since 1988. The site consists of sixteen mounds, which represent dwelling sites across a fairly wide span of time. Major scientific excavations were made at this site in 1936, and in 1951-53, when three mounds were excavated, and in 1959, when seven mounds were partially excavated. The major period of occupation at this site was during what is now designated the [[Birnirk culture]], between 500 and 900 CE. Evidence was also found at one mound of occupation during the later [[Thule people|Thule culture]], which was generally active 1100-1400 CE. Finds at the site include [[harpoon]] heads made of antler and stone, including at least one from the older Punuk culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Anthropology/pdf_lo/SCtA-0020.pdf|title=The Walakpa Site, Alaska|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|accessdate=2014-12-10}}</ref> Also uncovered were fragments of wood making up elements of traditional seal-hunting [[umiak]]s.<ref name=2013Report/>


The site was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1962, and was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1966.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nris"/> The major collections of materials from the site made in the 1950s were located at [[Harvard University]]'s [[Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology]] for many years, but were moved to the [[University of Alaska Museum of the North]] in [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] in 2011.<ref name=2013Report>{{cite web|url=http://www.uaf.edu/files/museum/communication/FY13-UAMN-Annual-Report_web-031114.pdf|title=2013 Annual Report|publisher=University of Alaska Museum of the North|accessdate=2014-12-10}}</ref>
It was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1962.<ref name="nhlsum"/>

==See also==
*[[List of National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in North Slope Borough, Alaska]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{NRHP in Alaska by borough and census area}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}


⚫
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Alaska]]
[[Category:Archaeological type sites]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Alaska]]
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in North Slope Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
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[[Category:North Slope Borough, Alaska]]
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[[Category:Archaeological sites in Alaska]]
[[Category:Native American history of Alaska]]
[[Category:Native American history of Alaska]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in North Slope Borough, Alaska]]

[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in North Slope Borough, Alaska]]

{{Alaska-NRHP-stub}}

[[ik:Piġniq]]

Latest revision as of 18:38, 5 August 2023

Birnirk site
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Mounds at the site
LocationAddress restricted[2]
Nearest cityUtqiagvik, Alaska
NRHP reference No.66000953[1]
AHRS No.BAR-001
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHLDecember 29, 1962[3]

The Birnirk site (Iñupiaq: Piġniq) is an archaeological site near Utqiagvik, Alaska. It includes sixteen prehistoric mounds which have yielded evidence of very early Birnirk and Thule culture. It is the type site of the Birnirk culture, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 for its archaeological importance in understanding prehistoric Arctic cultures.[3]

Description[edit]

Birnirk is located on the Alaska North Slope, near the settlement of Utqiagvik, on land owned by the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation since 1988. The site consists of sixteen mounds, which represent dwelling sites across a fairly wide span of time. Major scientific excavations were made at this site in 1936, and in 1951-53, when three mounds were excavated, and in 1959, when seven mounds were partially excavated. The major period of occupation at this site was during what is now designated the Birnirk culture, between 500 and 900 CE. Evidence was also found at one mound of occupation during the later Thule culture, which was generally active 1100-1400 CE. Finds at the site include harpoon heads made of antler and stone, including at least one from the older Punuk culture.[4] Also uncovered were fragments of wood making up elements of traditional seal-hunting umiaks.[5]

The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.[3][1] The major collections of materials from the site made in the 1950s were located at Harvard University's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology for many years, but were moved to the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks in 2011.[5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Federal and state laws and practices restrict general public access to information regarding the specific location of this resource. In some cases, this is to protect archeological sites from vandalism, while in other cases it is restricted at the request of the owner. See: Knoerl, John; Miller, Diane; Shrimpton, Rebecca H. (1990), Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric Resources, National Register Bulletin, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, OCLC 20706997.
  3. ^ a b c "Birnirk Site". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  4. ^ "The Walakpa Site, Alaska" (PDF). Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "2013 Annual Report" (PDF). University of Alaska Museum of the North. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
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