Historical Archaeology Survey of Three Sites In Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Alaska [KTZ‐032, BEN‐084, BEN‐159/160]

Cooper, Doreen

During the week of August 4‐9, 2007, three sites in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA) were visited by a team consisting of the project head, Eileen Devinney, Historical Archaeologist Doreen Cooper, and Nicole Mikesh, a cultural landscape architect interning for the National Park Service (NPS). The first site visited consisted of the two cabins and reindeer corral on the Goodhope River (Site No. KTZ‐00032). Of primary interest was the cabin believed to date to ca. 1938 (LCS #37010). Photos were taken of the cabin’s interior and the artifacts contained therein. An inventory was compiled of artifacts present inside the cabin. Two cabins, adjacent to each other, in the Fairhaven Mining Distrct (BEN‐ 00159‐00160) believed to be connected to the construction of the Fairhaven Ditch ca. 1906‐1907 were also visited. Work was concentrated on Cabin #2 (BEN‐00160, LCS 37002). Measurements were made of the cabin’s exterior and interior dimensions. Artifacts on the floor were sketched in place for the area adjacent to the door, and an inventory was taken of about 80% of the artifacts contained inside the cabin. The third site visited was the World War II era site at Lava Lake (BEN‐00084). The “Officer’s Quarters” building (BEN‐00161, LCS 37005) was measured inside and outside, and artifacts were photographed in situ. The dimensions of the extant remains of the “Mess Hall” building (BEN‐00162, LCS 37006) were also recorded, and in situ artifacts photographed. Artifacts located close to the remains were surveyed and recorded. The entire site was mapped. A secondary site at the lakeshore was mapped, and artifacts photographed and inventoried. This report summarizes and presents in detail the results of the historical archaeological investigations. A separate report has been submitted on the cultural landscape aspects of the work (Mikesh 2007).

Historical Archaeology Survey of Three Sites In Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Alaska [KTZ‐032, BEN‐084, BEN‐159/160]

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