Ancient Artifacts Lost to Erosion in Quinhagak, Alaska

Thu Oct 30 2025 19:39:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent storm in western Alaska has caused significant erosion, exposing and scattering ancient artifacts from a culturally important archaeological site in Quinhagak, highlighting the impact of climate change.

The Yup’ik community of Quinhagak, Alaska, recently faced severe erosion due to Typhoon Halong, causing a loss of potentially thousands of artifacts from an archaeological site preserved for centuries in permafrost. Archaeologist Rick Knecht emphasizes the critical importance of these findings for understanding Yup’ik heritage, as the storm could represent a major setback for ongoing preservation efforts amid climate change threats.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A fragment of a mask, preserved for centuries in permafrost, now rests amidst the muck of low tide in Quinhagak, Alaska. Artifacts such as wooden spoons, toys, and a fishing lure are scattered along the shoreline, victims of recent storms.

The Yup’ik community, located near the Bering Sea, managed to escape the full impacts of Typhoon Halong, which devastated areas further west. However, the storm did deliver a grievous blow, eroding dozens of feet from the shoreline and washing away thousands of significant archaeological artifacts.

Approximately 1,000 items have been recovered post-storm, including wooden masks and tools, according to archaeologist Rick Knecht of the Nunalleq project. But the loss is far greater, with estimates suggesting that around 100,000 artifacts may remain buried and scattered along the beach.

With freezing temperatures now settling in, efforts to recover more artifacts have been hindered. Knecht described the situation as a major loss to the community and the ongoing project, which has produced the largest collection of pre-contact Yup’ik artifacts. This research has been vital for understanding Yup’ik life prior to outside influence.

“When there are holes or disturbances in the site, it’s like trying to read a book with holes in the pages. You’re going to miss a few things,” Knecht noted.

The original village’s name has yet to be determined, but historical accounts suggest it was attacked and burned around 1650. The excavation efforts have involved collaborating with local elders to integrate traditional knowledge with archaeological research.

Quinhagak, a community of approximately 800 residents, relies heavily on subsistence food gathering. The recent storm further emphasizes the threat posed by climate change on the site, with melting permafrost and increased coastal erosion putting both the archaeological site and community infrastructure at risk.

The project, which started around 2007, began after artifacts began to appear along the beach. What was thought to be a stable site now faces new challenges following the storm, which removed critical buffers between the site and the sea.

In the aftermath, Knecht remarked on how drastically the landscape had changed, indicating the urgency for further excavation work. The preservation of the rescued artifacts requires careful techniques to prevent deterioration.

As the exploration team prepares for a “rescue excavation” next spring, they are confronted with the reality of returning to a site that must begin anew due to the recent destructive forces of nature.