Military Report: Army archaeology and artifacts
Ft. Wainwright highlights artifacts each month
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - In April, the Cultural Resources Management Program at Ft. Wainwright began an ongoing series called “Artifact of the Month.” This series is meant to highlight artifacts found on Army managed lands and provide historical information about the area.
For about 14,000 years, the lands on which Ft. Wainwright reside have been inhabited by humans. Other military lands around Alaska can make similar claims to their historical habitation. That means there is a deep and rich history to be explored at Ft. Wainwright in addition to other Army locations across Alaska. The Cultural Resources Management Program is tasked with discovering and dispersing that history.
The program is just one way the Army adheres to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 which began military efforts to conduct consistent archaeological efforts and stewardship of historic and protected areas. This includes locations such as Ladd Airfield and other sites that have historic significance.
Working to highlight some of the artifacts they have found during the course of these efforts, the Cultural Resources Management Program has began a series called “Artifact of the Month.” “Artifact of the month” is a new feature that we’re making for social media in support of the public affairs shop and we want to feature some of the fantastic artifacts that we find on army managed lands,” said Elizabeth Cook, the cultural resource manager at Ft. Wainwright. Highlighted artifacts may include pre-historic artifacts from Alaska Natives dating back tens of thousands of years or it may be a fifty year old relic from military history and anything in between.
The series began in April which is Archaeology Month in Alaska. The first artifact they highlighted was a copper projectile point. Measuring just under 7cm, this artifact dates back to about 1000 A.D. and was found in the Donnelly Training Area near Delta Junction.
“May’s artifact of the month is a Hills Brothers Coffee Can,” said Cook. This was found in the Tanana Flats Training Area south of Fairbanks and its a particularly helpful find. This kind of artifact has specific features that qualify it as a diagnostic artifact. This means it can be used to date other items at the same location. Using the Hills Brothers Coffee Can Chronology Field Guide, they were able to determine that the can was made between 1952 and 1963.
As to what other artifacts will come up as the series continues remains a mystery for those us in the present. There are plenty of picking for the Cultural Resources Management Program to choose from, but only time will tell what comes next.
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