BLM/AK/OF-83/02 BLM-Alaska Open File Report 2 

June 1983 

Archaeological Investigations in the 

DeLong Mountains 

Northwest Alaska, 1979 - 1980 

by Howard L. Smith 

Bureau of Land Management 

Alaska 
OPEN FILE REPORTS 

The category of "Open File Report" is used by BL'1-Alaska to identify 

the results of inventories or other investigations that are made 

available to the public outside the formal BL'1-Alaska technical 

publication series. These reports include preliminary or incomplete 

data that are not published and distributed in quantity but that are 

available for public inspection at BL'1 offices in Alaska, the USDI 

Resources Library in Anchorage, and the various libraries of the 

University of Alaska. 

Copies of open file reports are also available for inspection at the 

USDI Natural Resources Library in Washington, D.C. and the BL'1 Denver 

Service Center library. 

Howard L. Smith is an archeologist with the Northwest Resource Area of 

the Bureau of Land Management's Fairbanks District. 
: : 

INTRODUCTION 

Bureau of Land Management personnel have conducted archaeological 

inventory in the De Long Mountains of northwest Alaska during brief 

periods of 1979 and 1980. Inventory was performed in the Wulik River 

drainage on August 26, 27, and 28, 1979, and from August 22 to 29, 1980, 

in response to mineral exploration and development activities being 

carried out in the area. 

Under the requirements of Section 603 of the Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act of 1976, which was in effect at the time of both 

surveys, the Bureau had the responsibility to stipulate the manner in 

which mining activities were carried out "... 50 as to prevent unnecessarJ 

or undue degradation of the lands and their resources or to afford 

environmental protection." Archaeological survey was intended to help 

discharge the Bureau's responsibility under this law and The National 

Historic Preservation Act of 1966. 

BACKGROUND A.~D PREVIOUS WORK 

The area of mineral activity is located on the southern slope of 

the De Long Mountains and includes portions of both the Wulik and 

Kivalina River drainages (Figure 1). The De Long Mountains consist of 

rugged glaciated ridges rising to between 4,000 and 4,900 feet, with 

local relief of 1,500 to 3,000 feet. The area is drained by streams 

flowing south and west to the Noatak River and Chukchi Sea, and north to 

the Arctic Ocean. Lakes and glaciers are not present and the area is 

underlain by continuous permafrost (Wahrhaftig 1965:20). 

Moist tundra" is the predominant vegetation type in the area, 

consisting of such species as dwarf birch, netted willow, sedges~ 

labrador tea, saxifrages, cotton grass~ mosses, and lichensc Scattered 

areas of alpine tundra, typified by willows, dwarf birch~ crowberry, 

alpine blueberry, bearberry, saxifrages~ lichens~ and mosses, occurs in 

more elevated locations and on well-drained rocky ridges (Selkregg 

n.d.:130-134). A high brush community, predominantly composed of alders 

and willows, occurs along streams, where occasional stands of cottonwood 

also occur. 

The Wulik area supports resident populations of several important 


wildlife species. Moose are present, and although they are recent 


arrivals in historic times, may have been present and significant 

prehistorically (Hall 1973). The area sees seasonal concentrations of 

caribou when portions of the northwest Arctic herd migrate through in 

the fall and spring. Dall sheep occur in the more rugged country near 

the headwaters of the Wulik. 

1 
A significant population of Arctic char utilizes the Wulik and 

Kivalina Rivers. They can be taken in relatively large numbers during 

spring and fall migrations, and are an important subsistence item for 

the current residents of Kivalina. 

The first indications of potential mineral values in the area 

occurred as a result of reconnaissance mapping of the area in 1955 and 

1968 by the U.S. Geological Survey. At this time mineral staining was 

noted on a number of creeks in the area, and samples were collected from 

CWo of these streams. Analysis of these samples indicated that one of 

the localities contained concentrations of lead and zinc of potential 

economic significance (Tailleur 1970). Subsequent work by the U.S. 

Bureau of Mines located and mapped the source of this mineralization, 

and revealed significant quantities of lead, zinc, silver, and barite 

(Plahuta 1978). 

This deposit, on a tributary to Ikalukrok Creek, was located on 

lands withdrawn from mineral entry under Section 17(d)(2) of the Alaska 

Native Claims Settlement Act, but beginning in 1975 claims were staked 

on adjacent lands open to mineral activity. Since then, two companies, 

GCO Minerals and Cominco American, have located approximately 16,000 

claims covering an area of between 200,000 and 300,000 acres. The area 

covered by these claims is shown in Figure 1. 

Prior to cursory survey in 1979, no archaeological work had been 

done in the Wulik drainage. Ethnographic data and results of work in 

adjacent areas, however, indicated a strong possibility that the area 

had been heavily utilized during aboriginal times. Burch (1976:7) 

reports that the Wulik and Kivalina Rivers were used as travel routes 

during the 19th century, connecting the Wulik drainage with the Arctic 

coast by way of the Kukpowruk River. Both are reported to have been 

easily travelled. The Alaska Heritage Resource Survey lists over 100 

sites along the Kukpowruk River, the result of survey conducted by 

Solecki (1950; 1951). Assuming that at least some of these resulted 

from travel through the Brooks Range, it is only reasonable to conclude 

that related sites are located on the Wu1ik and Kivalina Rivers. 

Thus, despite the total lack of information on the area, the Wulik 

was judged to have significant potential for containing archaeological 

sites from several periods of Alaskan prehistory. 

1979 SURVEY 

1979 inventory was conducted in response to proposals from GCO 


Minerals to construct an all-weather gravel airstrip and road in the 


vicinity of the camp from which their exploratory operations are 


2 
conducted. Approximately 10 work days were expended and two alternative 

airstrip locations, the primary borrow area, and alternative routes for 

roads connecting the airstrips and camp were surveyed for archaeological 

sites. Spot checks were made on the route of a winter overland move of 

heavy equipment, and a location currently being used as a landing strip 

was also surveyed. This work resulted in the discovery of twelve 

prehistoric sites. Figure 2 shows the approximate limits of the 1979 

survey and locations of the sites recorded from that effort. 

All of the 1979 sites were surface lithic scatters, varying from a 

few flakes covering an area only three feet on a side to a series of 

five flake concentrations distributed over an area of 450 by 450 feet. 

Sites were located on terraces adjacent to the Hulik, on prominant 

ridges and other topographic features up to I 1/2 miles away from the 

river, and on the elevated margins of the small open valley in which the 

GCO "Lik" camp is located. (This small valley, which runs east-west 

between the west and east forks of the Hulik, is referred to by Cominco 

personnel as the "Su Valley," after one of their claim groups). One 

large lithic site (DEL-130) was also found along a major tributary of 

the Wulik. 

Sites adjacent to the Wulik were almost all located on the higher 

of the two discontinuous terraces that run along both sides of the river 

valley. The one exception to this was the small site DEL-122, which may 

very well have been redeposited from an adjacent site on the higher 

terrace. 

Raw materials observed included gray, green, tan, red, and black 

chert; outcrops of which were frequently noted during the course of the 

survey. Artifacts recovered include four large, crudely-flaked bifaces; 

three large, thin, bifacially flaked end or side blades; one small, 

discoidal biface; one keeled endscraper or flakeknife; fragments of two 

small end or side blades; and the basal portion of a stemmed projectile 

point. Several of the bifaces and fragments appear to derive from 

Choris or Choris related cultures, and the endscraper/flakeknife may 

suggest Denbigh affiliations. Other material has little or no 

diagnostic value. Figure 3 shows representative artifacts from the 1979 

survey, and Appendix A contains descriptions of the sites recorded 

during that year's work. 

1980 SURVEY 

As mentioned above, work done in 1979 was primarily in response to 

specific proposals for ground-disturbing activities, and largely ignored 

potential impacts from exploration activities such as drilling and 

geophysical surveys. Activities of this sort present a particularly 

difficult problem in the management of cultural resources because 

3 

potential impacts associated with them are largely indirect. Little or 

no significant surface disturbance is involved in surface exploration or 

even exploratory drilling done with helicopter-borne drill rigs. In an 

undeveloped area such as the Wulik, however, the potential for 

significant loss of information from illegal collection or inadvertent 

disturbance of artifacts is clear. 

During 1979 and 1980, mineral exploration in the Wulik area had 

involved as many as 55 to 60 field personnel plus 35 to 40 support 

personnel per year--a number that is likely to increase as exploration 

proceeds. Results of the 1979 inventory demonstrated that the sites 

could be densely distributed along the river and that all of the sites 

discovered were in locations that had been visited by field personnel 

associated with exploration activities. Consequently, we became concerned 

about possible significant indirect impacts, as well as those associated 

with construction per ~. 

As required by regulations in 36 CFR 800.4(a)(1), the Alaska State 

Historic Preservation Officer was contacted in April 1980 to obtain his 

recommendation concerning the type and extent of inventory that should 

be conducted in response to exp10ration activities. In a response dated 

May 12, the SHPO's office recommended " ••• that minimally a reconnaissance 

level survey should be conducted and areas containing larger more complex 

sites or concentrations of sites be given more intensive attention. n 

With this recommendation for a guideline, inventory in 1980 was 


designed to accomplish three goals: 


1. 	 To obtain a more definite idea of the areas within the Wulik 

and Kivalina drainages that are of primary interest to mineral 

companies. 

2. 	 To better define the kinds and probabilities of impact to be 

reasonably expected from exploration activities. 

3. 	 To broaden the base of information concerning site location, 

nature, and distribution. 

With this information, it was hoped that specific recommendations 

concerning type and extent of inventory could be made to companies 

working in the area, who would be required to conduct such inventories 

as a condition of approval of their plans of operation under regulation 

in 43 CFR 3802.1. 

Tne initial step in the inventory involved an overflight of the 

general area by helicopter, covering sections of the east and west forks 

of the Wulik, the Su Valley, and the Ikalukrok Creek drainage. During 

the overflight, areas judged to have high potential for archaeological 

sites were marked on 1:63,360 scale maps. Next, personnel from the two 

4 

companies were interviewed to determine those areas most likely to be 

impacted in the near future. Five areas were then selected for on-theground investigation so as to broaden areal coverage and to provide data 

from topographically different locations. Areas selected for survey 

were as follows: 

1. 	 The east fork of the Wulik, from just above the confluence 

with the west fork to immediately above Lik Camp. 

2. 	 The Su Valley. 

3. 	 The ridge to the east of the Wulik between the GCO camp and 

the Cominco camp. 

4. 	 The west fork of the Wulik above the confluence with the 

stream draining the Su Valley. 

S. 	 The Ikalukrok Creek valley in the vicinity of Red Dog strip. 

Within these areas, transects were walked so as to maximize the 

number of promising site locations. That is, transects tended to follow 

an irregular course from one raised topographic feature to another~ No 

subsurface testing was conducted, and no collection of surface artifacts 

was made. In situ photographs and scale drawings of complete and 

fragmencary-artifacts were made in the field as part of the recordation 

of each site. 

Problems resulting from adverse weather conditions and difficulties 

in arranging transportation from the area made it impossible to conduct 

survey in the vicinity of Red Dog strip, but transects were completed in 

all other areas. Transects completed on the ground include a ca. seven 

mile stretch of the east fork of the Wulik, from about three miles above 

the confluence with the west fork to just below the Cominco camp; a four 

mile transect of the Su Valley west of the divide; approximately three 

miles on the high ground northeast of Cominco's camp; and a two mile 

section of the left bank of the west fork. Figure 4 shows the transects 

covered and the approximate locations of sites discovered in 1980. 

Nine prehistoric sites and one historic site were disco~ered in 

1980, bringing the total of know~ sites in the area to 21. Three of the 

1980 sites were located along the east fork, two in the Su Valley, two 

on the ridge northeast of Cominco's camp, and two on the west fork. 

Sites discovered in 1980 vary in size from a small three foot flake 

scatter to one measuring 40 by 200 feet. All are located on prominent 

topographic features such as terraces, knobs, ridges, and hills. Sites 

were located between 500 feet and one mile from the nearest major 

stream, and between 50 and 700 feet above the level of the adjacent 

river. Sites near the river are all located on the highest of two or 

5 
three discontinuous terraces that run along the river valley. Frequently, 

sites are situated on exposed outcrops of shale or chert, which are 

common in the area. 

Raw materials observed include gray, red, black, green, and white 

chert. Finished artifacts were most often large, rather crudely flaked 

bifaces of little diagnostic value. One fragment of what may be a large 

side blade was noted at DEL-137. This artificat may be indicative of 

Choris-Norton-Ipiutak affiliations, although the flaking technique 

appeared somewhat cruder than is usual. 

Complete or fragmentary artifacts noted include four large biface 

fragments, one small biface fragment, one unifacial tool, a fragment of 

a large side blade, and a fragement of a small side or end blade. 

Sketches of artifacts from the 1980 survey are shown in Figure 3. 

Numerous outcrops of chert were observed during the survey, 

consisting of material that occurs in bands within softer shales. This 

"ribbon" chert is apparently of limited use for flaking, as it displays 

a strong tendency to fracture in parallel planes, rather than in a 

concoidal fashion. While some of the naturally occurring cherts may 

have been used by aboriginal inhabitants of the Wulik, most of the 

material noted at sites appeared to be of much better quality. This may 

be a result of careful selection of raw materials from local sources, or 

may indicate that the primary source of chert is other than the easily 

observed outcrops that are common in the area. The latter alternative 

is supported by the fact that most of the 1980 sites that occured on 

chert outcrops consisted of raw materials that were markedly different 

from 	the naturally occurring rock (e.g., gray chert flakes on an outcrop 

of black chert). Furthermore, few decortication flakes were noted at 

any of the sites, indicating that raw material was probably processed 

elsewhere prior to being transported to the final flaking location. 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

1. 	 Results of inventory in the Wulik area continue to support the 


original evaluation of the area's archaeological potential. A 


total of twenty-one sites have been discovered as a result of no 


more than 16 working days of inventory, clearly indicating that 


site distribution is relatively dense. 


2. 	 The densest concentration of sites discovered to date is in the 

broad, open area where the Su Valley connects to the valley of the 

east fork of the Wulik. Nine sites are now known to occur in this 

general area, including a concentration of six sites in a one mile 

stretch along the right bank of the Wulik. More sites are 

undoubtedly present in this area. 

6 

3. 	 Sites near the river are almost entirely located on the highest of 

two or three discontinuous terraces that occur along both sides of 

the river valley. 

4. 	 Where these terraces are not present, sites still appear to be 

located well above and away from the river. Sites were found as 

far away as I 1/2 miles and as much as 700 feet above the level of 

the river bed. 

5. 	 Investigations to date have not revealed any indication of large 

habitation sites. All sites appear to be the result of relatively 

short-term occupations, although the size and extent of sites such 

as DEL-IZ3; 130 and 137 would seem to indicate that certain 

locations were probably utilized with some frequency. Little or no 

evidence of quarrying activity has been encountered, and it 

therefore appears that aboriginal use of the Wulik drainage was 

primarily for the purpose of exploitation of the fish and game 

resources of the area. The potential of these sites for contributing 

important information on patterns of such resource utilization is 

high. 

6. 	 Recent passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation 

Act, which exempts public lands in Alaska from wilderness provisions 

contained in Section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act, and publication of final regulations for surface management of 

public lands under the mining laws (43 CFR 3809), remove any 

authority the Bureau had to require inventory in advance of 

exploration activities. 43 CPR 3809.1-4 requires Bureau approval 

for mining activities only if more than five acres will be disturbed. 

Because little or no surface disturbance is created by surface 

mineral surveyor exploratory drilling as is currently being 

conducted, no Bureau license or permit is required and there is 

therefore no undertaking that requires compliance with the National 

Historic Preservation Act and 36 CFR 800. 

7. 	 Activities associated with the exploration program, such as 


camps and airstrips, have a clear and undeniable potential for 


direct impacts to cultural resources, even when less than five 

acres will be disturbed. Of ~he three areas utilized to date for 

camps andlor landing strips, all have adversely affected archaeological sites. Site DEL-125, located just outside of Lik camp, 

was impacted by heavy equipment; a small flake scatter (DEL-140) 

which had undoubtedly been seriously disturbed by human traffic was 

found within the ComincD camp; and the large and important site at 

Red Dog strip (DEL-130) has for all practical purposes been 

completely destroyed. Unfortunately, while 43 CPR 3809.2-2 

prohibits an operator from knowingly creating such impacts, the 

Bureau has no authority to require inventory prior to activities as 

long 	as they will disturb less than five acres. Consequently, 

7 

there is little chance that such impacts can be avoided in the 

future. 

8. The potential for serious conflicts between mineral exploration and 

development and cultural resource values in the Wulik is high. As 

long as Federal jurisdiction continues over mineral claims in the 

region, these conflicts could be a source of difficulties for both 

land manager and industry, as they may well result in sudden and 

unanticipated workloads for the Bureau and unnecessary delays in 

the operations of mineral companies. Consequently, it continues to 

be to the benefit of all concerned to inventory the area for 

cultural resources. If the location and nature of archaeological 

sites are known well in advance of planned operations, unanticipated conflicts and the attendant difficulties can be avoided. 

Therefore, it is strongly recommended that inventory efforts 

continue and be expanded. To the extent that budget and manpower 

restraints permit, the Bureau should continue to inventory Federal 

claims in the Wulik area, making information available to mineral 

companies so that conflicts can be anticipated. Furthermore, 

mineral companies should seriously consider financing inventory 

efforts well before plans for development activities have become 

concrete. 

8 

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Figure 2 - 1979 survey, showing area i'nventoried and locations of discovered sites . 

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figure 3 _ 	Artifacts from De long Mountains Surveys. a: large Chorls biface from OEl-120; b: biface 

from OEL-128; c-e: Choris end/side blades from OEl-128; f: large biface frOID OEl-12l; 

g: large biface from OEl-l35; h: Choris-like end or side blade from DEl-137; i-.i: bifaces 

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Append>< A 


Sites From 1979 Survey 


13 

Site Number: DEL-119 

Location: NW 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec. 9, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: The site covers an area of approximately 100 by 50 feet, 

and consists of about 12 flakes of gray, green, and tan chert. Site is 

located at slightly more than 750 feet in elevation. on the higher of 

two terraces overlooking the current floodplain of the Wulik River. 

This location provides a good view to the north and east. DEL-119 is 

located on an outcrop of shale where some naturally-occurring chert 

nodules are visible. Vegetation on the site consists of bearberry 

(Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) , Phlox sibirica, Dryas, willows, and scattered 

grasses. The area surrounding the site consists of tussock tundra. No 

complete or fragmentary artifacts were observed. 

Site Number: DEL-120 

Location: SW 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec. 9, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located on the same terrace as DEL-119, 

overlooking the Wulik with a view to the north and east. Vegetation on 

the site is similar to that at DEL-119, and the site is also located on 

a relatively bare outcrop of shale. Site elevation is slightly less 

than 750 feet. A single fragment of a large biface was recovered. This 

artifact weights 24.15 grams, measures 5.5 em. by 5.3 em., and is 

composed of dark grey chert. It is oval in shape and lenticular in 

cross-section and is thin and well flaked. The biface is probably 

indicative of Choris origins. 

Site Number: DEL-121 

Location: NW 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec. 16, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Site is located approximately 1,000 yards south of 

, on the same terrace. It consists of a flake scatter covering 

an area of about 50 by 50 feet, with a view toward the north and east. 

Site elevation is just less than 750 feet, and vegetation is similar to 

that at DEL-119 and DEL-120, consisting of bearberry, Phlox, Dryas, 

14 

; 

willows, and grasses. Site consists of six flakes of silicified 

siltstone and gray, green, and dark gray chert. One of these flakes 

displays rough bifacial flaking along one margin. A large, tear drop 

shaped biface of silicified siltstone was also recovered. This artifact 

weighs 75.75 grams and measures 11.5 by 6.2 em. It is lenticular in 

cross-section, and has been frost-spalled into three separate pieces. 

DEL-121 was completely collected. 

Site Number: DEL-122 

Location: NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 17, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: DEL-l22 is located on the lower of two terraces, at a 

point where this terrace juts out into the Wulik floodplain. The iste 

consists of a small flake scatter situated atop a frost boil and 

covering an area of only five by five feet. No complete or fragmentary 

artifacts were observed. The site could easily represent redeposition 

of material from DEL-123, which is located on the higher terrace 

immediately above DEL-122. One small test pit indicated a soil depth of 

about 18 inches at site location. Site elevation is approximately 725 

feet. 

Site Number: DEL-123 

Location: NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 17, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 


Meridian 


Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located on an outcrop of shale on the higher of 

two terraces, and immediately above DEL-122. Site covers an area of 

about 450 by 450 feet, and consists of five distinct flake scatters. 

Site is located just to the north of a small tributary of the Wulik, at 

an elevation of between 700 and 750 feet, and affords a good view toward 

the north and east. Several artifacts and fragments were recovered from 

DEL-123, including two bifaces, two biface fragments, a unifacially 

flaked scraper, and what may be a portion of a blade core. Raw 

materials observed included gray, red, white, and mottled gray and brown 

cherts. 

One large biface, made of mottled gray and brown chert, weighs 60 grams 

and measures 7.1 by 5.4 em. It is sub-rectangular in shape and roughly 

lenticular in cross-section. A second complete biface is smaller, 

measuring 4.5 by 3.4 cms., and weighing 14.1 grams. It is discoidal in 

15 

shape, lenticular in cross-section and composed of gray chert. One 

biface fragment made of dark gray chert, appears to be the rounded end 

of an oval shaped tool. It measures 4.5 by 2.5 ems., and weighs 16.2 

grams. It exhibits a piano-convex cross-section. A second biface 

fragment, which appears to be approximately half of an oval shaped tool 

is much larger. It weighs 44.4 grams and measures 5.0 by 4.8 ems. It 

has a piano-convex cross-section and is composed of dark gray chert. 

The unifacial tool is made from a flake on which considerable cortex 

surface can still be seen and is of dark gray chert. It measures 6.6 by 

3.1 cms., weighs 22.0 grams, and is football-shaped with a piano-convex 

cross-section. It exhibits a marked curve in longitudinal cross-section. 

One flake of red chert displays a series of fine parallel flake scars 

reSUlting from the removal of several small blades. 

Site Number: DEL-124 

Location: SW 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 17, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located on the higher of two terraces and just to 


the south of a small tributary to the Wulik. It lies at an elevation of 


about 750 feet, and consists of flakes of gray, green, and tan chert 


scattered over an area of 100 by 300 feet. Site location provides a 


view to the north and east. Vegetation is similar to that at adjacent 


sites. No artifacts were noted. 


Site Number: DEL-125 

Location: SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec. 15, T. 32 N., R. 20 W., Kateel River 


Meridian 


Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located in a low saddle near the tip of a northsouth running ridge that connects to a bench that runs behind Lik camp 

and forms the northern margin of the Su Valley. The site is at an 

elevation of about 1,000 feet and is situated about 1/5 of a mile north 

of a small unnamed creek. Site area is largely bare of vegetation, with 

only scattered moss and lichens occurring on the gray chert pavement 

that makes up the ridge surface. The site consists of 37 gray to dark 

dray chert flakes scattered over an area of 20 by 20 feet. Site location 

provides a view across the Su Valley toward the south. DEL-125 was 

completely collected. One large, crudely-flaked biface was collected. 

It is composed of dark gray chert, weighs 129 grams, and measures 7.5 by 

5.0 ems. It is over cwo ems. thick, roughly oval in shape, and has a 

16 

linticular cross-section. 

Site Number: DEL-126 

Location: NW 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec. 18, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Katee1 River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

DescriPtion: Site consists of 15-20 flakes scattered over an area of 

about 20 feet in diameter, located on a prominant hill near the eastern 

end of the Su Valley. This location provides a view of the open area to 

the south. There is little soil development on tbe site, and vegetation 

consists of sparse lichens, dwarf birch, and willow. Raw materials 

observed include gray and red cherts. Elevation of the site is 

approximately 1,000 feet. No artifacts wre observed. 

Site Number: DEL-127 

Location: SW 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 13, T. 32 N., R. 20 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located on the wouthwest slope of the same hill 

as DEL-126, at an elevation of about 950 feet. DEL-127 is situated 

about 1/5 of a mile east of a small tributary of the Wulik, and commands 

a view to the southwest. The site consists of a dense scatter of 75-100 

flakes in an area about three by seven feet. Raw materials consist of 

gray and red cherts. One large, crudely-flaked biface fragment of 

gray/brown chert was recovered. It weights 113.5 grams, measures 7.5 by 

5~3 cms&, has a lenticular cross-section, and is roughly oval in shape~ 

Vegetation at DEL-127 is similar to that at DEL-126, which is located 

about 2,500 feet to the northeast. 

Site Number: DEL-128 

Location: SW 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec. 15, T. 32 N., R. 20 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1,63,360 

Description: Site is located about 1/4-mile to the west of DEL-125, on 

the same bench along the northern margin of the Su Valley. Site lies 

immediately to the east of a small unnamed creek, at an elevation of 

about 1,050 feet. This location commands a view of the valley to the 

17 

south and west. The site consists of a surface scatter of gray and red 

chert flakes distributed over an area of about 40 by 40 feet. Vegetation 

on the site includes dwarf birch, Dryas, and scattered grasses. Soil 

deposition at the site is characterized by a layer of 4.5 ems. of 

organic material overlying 10-12 ems. of typical brown arctic soil. 

Artifacts recovered include a fragment of a large thin biface, twe 

fragments of end or sideblades, and the basal portion of a stemmed 

projectile point. The large biface appears to be about half of an oval 

shaped tool, is composed of gray chert, and has a lenticular crosssection. It weighs 25.8 grams, and measures 5.0 by 5.7 ems. One of the 

fragmentary blades is the tip of an end or side blade of gray chert. It 

weighs 1.4 grams, measures 2.2 by 1.3 ems., and displays fine, oblique 

transverse flaking typical of Choris-Norton-Ipiutak artifacts. The 

other blade fragment appears to be the basal portion of an end blade. 

It also is composed of gray chert and displays flaking similar to that 

of the other blade fragment. It weighs 1.2 grams, and measures 2.5 by 

1.1 ems. The projectile point fragment is the basal portion of a stemmed 

point of gray chert. It weighs 0.6 grams and measures 1.0 by 0.8 cms. 

Flaking technique is similar to that of the CWo blade fragments. 

Site Number: DEL-129 

Location: SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec. 21, T. 32 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located on the highest point of a north-south 


trending ridge about two miles east of the Wulik River, at an elevation 


of over 1,050 feet. Flakes of gray, black, white, and red chert are 


scattered over an area about 35 by 40 feet surrounding a small prominent 


knob atop the ridge. View from the site is primarily toward the north 


and west. No artifacts were noted. 


Site Number: DEL-130 

Location: NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 14, and SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec. 11, T. 31 N., 

R. 19 W., Kateel River Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: The site is located on a level, well drained terrace 

along the eastern edge of the small valley drained by Ikalukrok Creek. 

Site is near the confluence of Ikalukrok Creek and an unnamed creek 

draining the area to the east and commands an excellent view of the 

surrounding terrain in all directions. Vegetation on the terrace 

includes dwarf birch, bearberry, blueberries, moss, lichens, and willows. 

18 

~~e site coveTS an area of about 300 by 900 feet, and consists of flakes 

of black, rad, and gray chert, including decortication £lakes0 

The area has been used extensively as a camp and prL~ry su~ply point 

for mineral activity in the area, and the site has been severely 

impacted. The terrace has been used as a landing strip, and the 

southern portion of the area denuded by this use includes a portion of 

the site. Deep ruts cross a portion of the site, and an almost total 

lack of finished artifacts in a site of this size probably indicates 

that considerable illegal collection has occurred. Only one artifact 

was recovered fram this site. This is a keeled endscraper or flakeknife 

possibly indicative of Denbigh affiliations. It is composed of tanl 

green chert and measureS 8.1 by 4.4 ems. and weighs 73. i grams. Site 

elevation is 700 feet. 

19 

Appendix B 


Sites From 1980 Survey 


20 

Site Number: DEL-131 

Location: NE 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec. 6, T. 30 N., R. 20 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: Site consists of a surface scatter of gray, red, black, 

and white chert flakes located along the edge of the third and highest 

terrace on the right bank of the Wulik River. Flakes are scattered over 

a distance of approximately 500 feet along the edge of the terrace. The 

site is located about 1/4-mile north of the Wulik, at an elevation of 

400 feet. Vegetation in the surrounding area is tussock tundra, the 

site area itself is largely bare of vegetation. No artifacts were 

nored. 

Site Number: DEL-132 

Location: NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 32, T. 31 N., R. 20 W., Kareel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: The site is located on a bare shale outcrop approximately 

1,000 feet west of DEL-l33. Site consists of gray, black, and white 

chert flakes covering an area of about 50 feet in diameter. Several 

small clusters of quarter-sized flakes were noted, but no finished 

artifacts were observed. Site elevation is about 500 feet and the view 

from the site is toward the south and west. 

Site Number: DEL-133 

Location: SW 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec. 33, T. 31 N., R. 20 W., Kateel River 


Meridian 


Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: This site consists of a surface scatter of gray and black 

chert flakes covering an area of about 30 by 30 feet. It is located on 

a prominent bare knob of weathered shale situated near the bottom end of 

a short canyon through which the Wulik runs. Three or four dense 

clusters of flakes were present, but no finished artifacts were noted. 

Site Number: DEL-134 

Location: NW 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec. 31, T. 32 N., R. 20 W., Kareel River 


Meridian 


21 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: Site consists of a small lithic scatter of no more than 

ten to fifteen flakes located on the second terrace above the floor of 

the Su Valley. The site lies approximately 1/4-mile south of the creek 

draining the valley, and covers an area of ten to twelve feet in 

diameter atop a bare outcrop of weathered gray stone interspersed with 

cobbles of gray chert. Site elevation is 850 feet. Vegetation on the 

site includes dwarf birch, lichen, and knik-knik. No artifacts were 

noted, but one flake may show retouch flaking along one side and face. 

Site area provides a good view of the surrounding area to the north and 

west. 

Site Number: DEL-135 

Location: NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 32, T. 32 N., R. 20 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located on an isolated outcrop of black chert 

that lies near the bottom of the valley floor about liS-mile south of 

the main creek draining the Su Valley. Elevation of site is about 850 

feet. Site consists of a surface scatter of lithics covering an area of 

about SO by 25 feet, with the major concentration of material near the 

eastern end of the area. Vegetation of the site includes bearberry, 

Dryas, lichen, moss, saxifrage, and crowberry. A dense concentration of 

translucent buff colored chert flakes and two small (5-7 ems.) bifaces 

of the same material are located toward the eastern end of the site. 

Also observed was a fragment of a large, apparently semi-lunate biface 

composed of mottled blue and brown chert and a unifacial tool of gray 

chert. 

Site Number: DEL-136 

Location: SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec. 27, T. 32 N., R. 21 W., Kateel River 


Meridian 


Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: Site is located on an east-west running ridge about one 

mile east of the West Fork of the Wulik River. Site consists of gray 

chert flakes scattered along the ridge top for a distance of about 100 

feet. Vegetation on the site includes dwarf birch, willow, blueberry, 

and lichens. Site elevation is ca. 1,200 feet and the view from the 

site is toward the west. No artifacts were observed. 

22 
; 

Site Number: DEL-137 

Location: NW 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 27, T. 32 N., R. 21 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: A large, dense surface lithic site located on the first 

east-west running ridge north of DEL-136 and immediately south of a 

prominent notch carved by the West Fork in a ridge of resistant material. 

Lithics include gray, blue/gray, brown, green, and mottled brown and 

blue chert flakes scattered for a distance of 150 feet along the top of 

the ridge. The ridge is composed of black chert. Vegetation includes 

willows, Dryas, blueberry, saxifrage, dwarf birch, and lichens, and the 

elevation of the site is about 950 feet. 

View from the site is toward the south and west. Many of the large 

flakes at the site are decortication flakes. Several separate 

concentrations of flakkes were noted, and a fragment of a blue/gray 

chert side blade was observed. This artifact appears to be of Choris 

origins. 

Site Number: DEL-138 

Location: NE 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec. 8, T. 31 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 


Meridian 


Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: A small surface lithic site consisting of three flakes 

and two biface fragments, located on the southern side of an outcrop of 

weathered shale on an east-west trending ridge to the east of Cominco 

American's camp. Site is located aout LIZ-mile from the Wulik River, at 

an elevation of 850 feet. It is located near the upstream end of a 

small narrow canyon, and approximately 275 feet above the level of the 

river. Vegetation on the site includes bearberry, blueberry, crowberry, 

and lichen. All lithics are composed of dark gray chert. Both biface 

fragments are rectangular in shape, the smaller measures four by four 

ems., and the larger measures five by five ems. 

Site Number: DEL-139 

Location: SW 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 8, T. 31 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 


Meridian 


Map Reference: De 'Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

23 

Description: The site consists of gray, black, and white chert flakes 

widely scattered along the end of a high east-west trending ridge just 

upstream from a short, narrow canyon of the Wulik. Material was observed 

in unvegetated patches along the north side of the ridge, in an area of 

numerous solufluction lobes. Outcrops of dark gray shale are common 

along the ridge, which terminates at the river in a steep talus slope of 

the same material. Cultural material was observed for a distance of 

approximately 200 feet, along only the higher portion of the ridge, and 

not on a lower terrace near the river. Vegetation on the site includes 

Dryas, willow, dwarf birch, blueberry, and lichen. 

Cultural material at the site includes large crude quarry blanks and 

flake cores of grainy white chert, which are located primarily toward 

the higher end of the site and a dense scatter of gray chert flakes and 

two small blade fragments of gray and black chert near the lower end of 

the site. Elevation of the site is 750 to 850 feet and the view is 

primarily toward the north. 

Site Number: DEL-140 

Location: NE 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec. 18, T. 31 N., R. 19 W., Kateel River 

Meridian 

Map Reference: ,De Long Mountains (A-2) 1:63,360 

Description: The site consists of a small lithic scatter of gray and 

white chert flakes located within the camp area currently being used by 

Cominco American. Flakes cover an area of about 30 feet in diameter and 

are located just to the north of the cook tent. No artifacts were 

observed. It is highly likely that the site has been severely disturbed 

as a result of heavy human use of the area. Site setting consists of an 

exposed gravel terrace on the left bank of the Wulik, adjFcent to a 

small tributary stream. The area is currently bare of vegetation, 

partly because of the presence of the camp, but it is likely that the 

area was largely unvegetated in its natural state. Surrounding vegetation 

includes willow, sedges, and dwarf birch. Elevation of the site is 

about 550 feet. 

Site Number: DEL-141 

Location: NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec. 1, T. 30 N., R. 21 W., Kateel River 


Meridian 


Map Reference: De Long Mountains (A-3) 1:63,360 

Description: The site consists of the remains of a pole and wire 

corral located in a thick grove of cottonwood trees near the confluence 

24 

of several small streams with the Wulik. Six to eight courses of poles 

were observed, with sections of the corral still attached to trees with 

galvanized barbed wire and standard round nails. Sections of the corral 

have collapsed, leaving courses of horizontal poles on the ground. No 

evidence of wings leading into the corral was observed. Possibly this 

site relates to reindeer herding activities, presumably associated with 

one of the herds established in the Kivalina area. Herding took place 

from Kivalina during the period between 1905 and 1959 (Stern et al. 

1977:47-48). 

25 

References Cited 

Burch, Ernest 5., Jr. 

1976 Overland Travel Routes in Northwest Alaska. Anthropological 

Papers of the Universitv of Alaska 18(1):1-10. 

Hall, Edwin S., Jr. 

1973 Archaeological and Recent Evidence for Expansion of Moose 

Range in Northern Alaska. Journal of Mammology 54(1):291-295. 

Plahuta, Joseph T. 

1978 	Geologic Map and Cross Sections of the Red Dog Prospect, De 

Long Mountains, Northwestern Alaska. U.S. Department of 

Interior, Bureau of Mines, Open File Report No. 65-78. 

Selkregg, Lidia L. 

n.d. 	Alaska Regional Profiles: Northwest Region. University of 

Alaska, Arctic Environmental Information and Data Center. 

Solecki, Ralph S. 

1950 A preliminary Report of an Archaeological Reconnaissance of 

the Kukpowruk and Kokolik Rivers in Northwest Alaska. 

American Antiquity 16(1):66-69. 

1951 	Archeology and Ecology of the Arctic Slope of Alaska. Annual 

Recort of the Smithsonian Institution for 1950, pp. 469-495. 

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 

Stern, Richard 0., Edward L. Arobio, Larry L. Naylor, and Wayne C. 

Thomas 

1977 	Socio-Economic Evaluation of Reindeer Herding in Relation to 

Proposed National Interest Lands (d)2 in Northwestern Alaska. 

Report prepared for the National Park Service. Institute of 

Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. 

Tailleur, Irvin L. 

1970 	Lead-, Zinc-, and Barite-bearing Samples from the Western 

Brooks Range, Alaska. U.S. Department of Interior, Geological 

Survey, Open File Report No. 445. 

Wahrhaftig, Clyde 

1965 	 Physiographic Division of Alaska. Geological Survey 

Professional Paper No. 482. U.S. Government Printing office, 

Washington, D.C. 

26