28 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Anchorage’s Indigenous History: A 1000-Year-Old Dene Cache Found Near Cook Inlet

In June 2024, archaeologists from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Northern Land Use Research Alaska discovered a birch bark-lined cache at a known Dene (Athabascan) site along Upper Cook Inlet. The Dene language group extends from the interior of Alaska through Canada and into the American Southwest, with the Dena’ina and Ahtna peoples being among its speakers.

Elizabeth Ortiz, a cultural resource manager and archaeologist at JBER, explained that cache pits are similar to root cellars and were used to preserve fish, meat, and berries. These pits were dug into well-drained soils and lined with birch bark and layers of grasses to protect the food, making intact finds quite rare. Initial radiocarbon dating revealed that the cache was used approximately 1,000 years ago.

Margan Grover, an archaeologist at JBER, stated, “This is the oldest known site on the east side of Upper Cook Inlet and further substantiates Dena’ina and Ahtna oral traditions that the JBER and surrounding area have been used for a very long time.” The site has long been associated with the Dena’ina and Ahtna peoples and is located near a traditional trail used for travel between the area and the Matanuska and Susitna valleys.

The Dene people would come to this area in the spring and stay through the summer to catch and preserve salmon. Traditional houses, known as nichił, and smokehouses lined the bluff and beach along Upper Cook Inlet. The discovery of the cache provides a valuable learning opportunity for everyone involved. Grover emphasized, “I want this to be an opportunity for people to understand who the Dene of Knik Arm are and how their ancestors lived on the land that is now JBER and Anchorage.”

Archaeologists from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Northern Land Use Research Alaska, and area tribal councils encountered a birch bark-lined cache at a known Dene site along Upper Cook Inlet in June of 2024. Cache pits are similar to root cellars and were used to preserve fish, meat, and berries. Initial radiocarbon dating revealed that the cache was used around 1,000 years ago. Credit: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
Archaeologists from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Northern Land Use Research Alaska, and area tribal councils encountered a birch bark-lined cache at a known Dene site along Upper Cook Inlet in June of 2024. Cache pits are similar to root cellars and were used to preserve fish, meat, and berries. Initial radiocarbon dating revealed that the cache was used around 1,000 years ago. Credit: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

Most of the site was demolished by military activities in 1942, but remarkably, this cache pit contains an intact birch bark lining and is one of the few undisturbed features left at the Dene site. Ortiz noted that additional radiocarbon and stable isotope tests could yield new and significant information about the history of Upper Cook Inlet. Researchers are also testing to determine what types of food were stored in the cache and what other activities took place in the surrounding area.

The stable isotope analysis examines ratios of nitrogen and carbon, revealing whether the food stored there was marine or terrestrial. Initial results indicate that the cache was used to store moose or caribou. Grover mentioned, “Our research questions and methods are being developed in collaboration with area tribes who have not had access to these traditional lands for many decades.”

The cache not only provides valuable information but also presents an opportunity for JBER to build relationships. Aaron Leggett, president of the Native Village of Eklutna, stated, “Research at this site provides an invaluable opportunity to work toward shared goals and the co-production of knowledge about our past.”

Researchers measure a test excavation they made into the wall of the cache during their visit in the summer of 2024. The white spot in the middle is the preserved birch bark. Credit: U.S. Air Force
Researchers measure a test excavation they made into the wall of the cache during their visit in the summer of 2024. The white spot in the middle is the preserved birch bark. Credit: U.S. Air Force

In conclusion, this 1000-year-old cache found near Cook Inlet serves as a testament to the Dene people’s stewardship of these lands and highlights the importance of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region. Archaeological findings and oral histories illuminate the past, allowing local communities to reconnect with their history and heritage.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)

Cover Image Credit: A depression around the cache where soil samples were taken during the archeologists’ visit in summer 2024. Credit: U.S. Air Force and Northern Land Use Research Alaska

Related Articles

Volunteer archaeologists discovered a 1900-year-old silver military decoration in Vindolanda

17 June 2023

17 June 2023

Volunteer archaeologists have discovered a 1900-year-old military decoration (Phalera) that was awarded to distinguished soldiers and troops in the Roman...

An ancient structure of unknown purpose discovered in northeastern Italy

25 March 2023

25 March 2023

A mysterious structure of unknown purpose has been unearthed in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in northeastern Italy. The discovery...

Archaeologists discover a “Seleucid satrap tomb” in the ancient Greek (Seleucids) city of Nahavand in Iran

16 May 2022

16 May 2022

Archaeologists announced on Saturday that they discovered a tomb believed to be the tomb of a Seleucid satrap or general...

The Bronze Sacred Sanxingdui Tree Number 3 is Being Restored

9 April 2021

9 April 2021

According to the announcement of the Sanxingdui Museum, archaeologists have begun to assemble and restore the No. 3 bronze sacred...

First European farmers’ heights did not meet expectations

9 April 2022

9 April 2022

A combined study of genetics and skeletal remains shows that the switch from primarily hunting, gathering and foraging to farming...

30 Graves Found in the Basilica-Planned Ancient City

4 April 2021

4 April 2021

Kibyra ancient city is situated south of Turkey, located in the town Gölhisar in the southwestern part of Burdur Province,...

Spectacular gold find from early medieval tombs in Basel

28 November 2022

28 November 2022

An excavation in Basel’s Kleinbasel neighborhood, Switzerland, has uncovered 15 graves, some richly furnished, from an early medieval burial ground....

Archaeologists Uncovered a Roman-Era Clay Theater Ticket in Ancient City of Prusias ad Hypium

1 December 2024

1 December 2024

Excavations at the ancient city of Prusias Ad Hypium in the Konuralp region of Düzce in northwestern Türkiye have uncovered...

Archaeologists in Peru discover a mummy tied with 800-year-old ropes

28 November 2021

28 November 2021

On Peru’s central coast, archaeologists discovered a mummy estimated to be at least 800 years old. The mummy’s body was...

A 13th-Century Italian Fresco Reveals the Medieval Church’s Use of Islamic Altar Tents

3 February 2025

3 February 2025

A recently rediscovered 13th-century fresco in Ferrara, Italy, offers significant insights into the medieval practice of utilizing Islamic tents to...

The Legacy of the Double-Headed Eagle: From Hittite Kings to Modern Icons

25 June 2025

25 June 2025

The double-headed eagle is one of the most enduring symbols in human history. Recognized today as an emblem of imperial...

Hidden Archaeological Treasures from Cologne Cathedral

25 January 2024

25 January 2024

An area of around 4,000 square meters (43,055 square feet) is being discovered beneath the Cologne Cathedral, the largest Gothic...

A First in Denmark: Rare 4th Century Roman Helmet and Chainmail Found

3 February 2025

3 February 2025

Archaeologists have recently unearthed a massive stockpile of weapons near Hedensted, Denmark, buried 1,500 years ago by an ancient chief....

Evidence of Medieval Scotland in Inverness revealed by building work

19 June 2021

19 June 2021

Archaeologists in Scotland have discovered medieval remains during excavations for construction work, and they are exposing mysteries about the industrial...

A first in 35 years! Child grave with bracelets and gifts found in ancient city of Kelenderis

25 June 2022

25 June 2022

During this year’s excavations in the ancient city of Kelenderis, founded on the Mediterranean coast in the southern province of...