This microblade is one of many discovered during the 1996 re-excavation. It was found in the oldest of the two Denali complex occupations. All microblades from the Moose Creek site were unearthed above the Nenana complex level dated at c. 11,200 years B.P. These microblades are believed to be 10,600 radiocarbon years old based on similar material from the Dry Creek site. by Georges A. Pearson

The third deepest occupation level is represented as a Denali complex belonging to the paleoarctic tradition. It is designated here as Denali complex I and is located within geological unit number 2, just above the Nenana complex. The most diagnostic artifacts found here were 27 microblades made from a single piece of blue chert and a Donnelly burin. All the microblades were found in a tight cluster.

MICROBLADE & BLADE
DENALI & NENANA COMPLEX BLADES
MOOSE CREEK SITE--CENTRAL ALASKA
1996 RE-EXCAVATION

Both of these core blades were recovered during the 1996 excavation of the Moose Creek site. The small gray microblade was uncovered in the lower Denali I occupation. The curve on one end indicates an overshot as it detached from the core. The larger core blade was discovered within the Nenana occupation and it is a good straight example. Two previous blade removals can be seen on its surface. The smaller blade measures 3/4 inch (2 cm) long.

Other artifacts found in Denali complex I include several complete and fragmented bifaces, a blade and lanceolate projectile point tips and bases. These projectile points have diamond shaped cross-sections, heavily ground bases and straight or flat proximal ends (bases). Several flakes and an exhausted core made of gray-white rhyolite were found next to a hearth containing fire cracked rock and a large amount of charcoal. Charcoal collected from this hearth produced a date of 10,500 + 60 BP.

BLADES AND CORES
ARCTIC SMALL TOOL TRADITION
UTUKOK RIVER, ALASKA & COFFIN SITE, ALASKA & ARTIC REGION
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND SUNY AT BROCKPORT COLLECTIONS

All the tools pictured here are Paleoeskimo artifacts from the Arctic Small Tool Tradition. The blades and cores in this picture came from three different locations in Alaska. The two blades are from the Coffin site in Alaska. The shorter blade measures 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) long. The larger core was collected in the Arctic region of Alaska. It measures 2 5/16 inches (5.9 cm) long. The smaller core was collected far above the Arctic Circle along the Utukok River in the northwestern area of Alaska.
Each core produces a limited number of blades before it is discarded. The larger core in this picture does not appear to have been completely exhausted and should still be able to produce more blades. Blades were used as small knives or cutting tools. Any freshly fractured edge of good quality chert is sharp enough to easily cut many different types of plant and animal materials. A fresh flake of obsidian is much sharper than a scalpel blade!

The oldest archaeological feature represented at Moose Creek is a Nenana complex occupation. It is located in component I deep within the geological strata in unit 2 and just above the glacier deposited outwash gravels. The Nenana deposits were as much as 70 cm (27.5 inches) deep and approximately 5 cm (2 inches) above the outwash gravels.

PICTURE CREDIT AND COPYRIGHT, DR. GEORGES A. PEARSON
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
NENANA OCCUPATION LEVEL
HEARTH AND FLAKE SCATTER
MOOSE CREEK SITE--CENTRAL ALASKA
1996 RE-EXCAVATION

This picture shows the hearth area of the Nenana complex in component I on the Moose Creek site in 1996. Charcoal samples from the hearth area dates this Nenana complex occupation to 11,190 + 60 years B.P.

One of the most important discoveries made in the Nenana occupation level was a hearth that provided enough wood charcoal to date the occupation directly. The several chunks and pieces of charcoal was identified as willow (Salix app.). The soil (loess) surrounding the charcoal was also reddened and slightly hardened. A date of 11,190 + 60 years before present was measured from a piece of charcoal taken directly next to the scraper plane found by the hearth.

PICTURE CREDIT AND COPYRIGHT, DR. GEORGES A. PEARSON
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
NENANA OCCUPATION LEVEL
MISC. TOOLS AND FLAKE SCATTER
MOOSE CREEK SITE--CENTRAL ALASKA
1996 RE-EXCAVATION

This picture shows several excavated artifacts in place within the Nenana occupation level. A charcoal sample taken near the scraper-plane produced a carbon 14 date of 11,190 + 60 years B.P.

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE FIVE

"REFERENCES"

1991, "Clovis Origins and Adaptations," "The Nenana Complex of Alaska and Clovis Origins," by Ted Goebel, Roger Powers and Nancy Bigelow, pp 49-76.
1993, "From Kostenki to Clovis," "The Ones That Will Not Go Away," by J.M. Adovasio, pp. 203-204.
1997, "Expedition Affirms Significance of Moose Creek Site," Mammoth Trumpet, Vol. 12, No. 4, October, pp. 13-18.
1997, "new Evidence for a Nenana-Complex Occupation at the Moose Creek Site, Central Alaska: Preliminary Results of the 1996 Re-excavation," Current Research of the Pleistocenn,14, by Georges A. Pearson, pp. 72-74.
1999, "Early Occupation and Cultural Sequence at Moose Creek: A Late Pleistocene Site in Central Alaska," Arctic Vol. 52, No. 4, by Georges A. Pearson, pp. 332-345.
2002, "Late-Pleistocene and Holocene Microblade Industries at the Moose Creek Site," Current Research of the Pleistocene, 17, by Georges A. Pearson, pp. 64-65.
Personal communications with Dr. Georges A. Pearson.

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