BLM Alaska Archaeology

The BLM in Alaska manages thousands of archaeological sites throughout Alaska spanning nearly 15,000 years in age. They contain fascinating evidence of earlier people with different cultures who lived in what is today Alaska.

That evidence includes remains of their distinctive tools, traces of their ancient dwellings, and other evidence that can be used to help us know more about these prehistoric people and how they lived. Also, archaeological sites on BLM-managed lands in Alaska bear evidence of more recent land use by people from historic times about whom there are contemporary written records.

Thus, archaeological sites in Alaska range from over 14,000 years old, to more recent historic sites from the 20th century. They also include sites from the Russian Period that ended in 1867, to those from late 19th and early 20th century gold rushes, to sites within the living memory of many Americans today.

Since the time of Alaska’s statehood in 1959, many significant archaeological discoveries in Alaska on BLM-managed lands have revolutionized our understanding of this state’s most ancient people. They are helping answer the enduring question in archaeology: "When and how did the first people come to the Americas?”

Below is a sample of some of the significant prehistoric and historic archaeological sites managed by the BLM in Alaska today: