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John White, Texas A&M University

Questions remain regarding the Peopling of the Americas, despite advances in multidisciplinary studies of the topic. Southcentral Alaska is an area with potential to elucidate these questions, but it has received little archaeological investigation to date. My dissertation research seeks to understand the nature and timing of the earliest human occupations of southcentral Alaska and how they related to the Peopling of the Americas and includes two components. Nataeł Na’ is a multi-component site located in the northern Copper River Basin, identified by NPS archaeologists in 2016. In 2019 I helped lead expanded test excavations at the site. We were able to recover additional radiocarbon samples and a robust lithic assemblage from the ~12 thousand cal BP occupation. Additionally, we identified a small lower cultural component dating to ~13 thousand cal BP, currently the oldest culturally-affiliated date in the state south of the Alaska Range.

I also seek to create a GIS-based predictive model to aid in locating preserved Pleistocene-aged sites along the southern Alaskan coast by testing the applicability of an existing methodology applied successfully in British Columbia. Decolonization is an important aspect of my approach to archaeology and I have been fortunate enough to develop strong working relationships with the Alaska Native community in both of my research areas.