An archaeological site near Quinhagak, previously preserved in permafrost, was severely damaged by Typhoon Halong earlier this month. Rick Knecht, a lecturer at the University of Aberdeen who has long worked in the region, sounded the alarm about the risks climate change poses to humanity. Associated Press. “There have long been concerns about the threats climate change — thawing permafrost, coastal erosion, the potential for more frequent or stronger storms — pose to the region,” Knecht said.
After the storm hit Quinhagak, many items were found, including wooden masks and tools. Quinhagak is a small village of 800 residents on the southwest coast of Alaska and is part of the Yupik Native community. But strong winds and waves brought by the tropical cyclone scattered more artifacts along the coastline, possibly as many as 10,000, according to the Associated Press. Archaeologists first began excavating the Nunalleq archaeological site in 2007. There is a large collection of Yupik artifacts from the period before the Yupik people came into contact with European outsiders in the 19th century.
With help from the Nunalek Museum, Knecht and others have begun salvaging the rescued artifacts, removing sea salt from the woodwork and using chemicals to prevent the pieces from cracking as they dry. This two-room local museum houses the world’s largest collection of Yupik artifacts, including prehistoric masks, ivory carvings and dolls. “I think that’s really the future of museum work, decolonizing it and decentering it and giving people the opportunity to engage with their culture every day,” Knecht told Alaska Public Media in 2023.
