In the US, archaeologists and climatologists, jointly examined the stony tundra plateau in the West of the Brooks range in Alaska, have discovered remnants of hundreds of homes and stone pyramids, whose age is around 11 thousand years.
Report about the study appeared in the edition of the Anchorage Daily News. The author – Ned Roselle, researcher at Geophysical Institute University of Alaska Fairbanks. A large-scale study started in 2011, when the national Park Service built on the pass Howard’s meteorological station. These objects is intended for Autonomous operation in remote locations throughout Alaska. The station is powered by solar panels, and sends the obtained data via satellites.
These data helped the archaeologists to choose the most suitable time for the expedition and to explore the wider area between the Colville and Noatak rivers. They went there and found that even in the most extreme weather conditions in Alaska in ancient times there were large settlements.
At the pass, Howard was discovered remnants of hundreds of homes, including the ring "foundations", on which was mounted a domed house the needle, as well as pits for the storage of products, raw materials and waste from the manufacture of stone tools. In addition, were found to be composed pyramidal piles of stones. These structures are not as monumental as the pyramids of Egypt, but they are about twice as ancient African. Scientists believe that the pyramids in Alaska in ancient times, served as traps into which people were herded caribou – reindeer.
"the locals used in their own interests in the caribou, fish, berries, waterfowl and, in the earliest period, probably of bison, – says archaeologist Geoff Rasich from the national Park Service. – Pass Howard is the tundra gate width of several kilometers, through which herds of caribou still migrate from seasonal Western Arctic".
Despite extremely difficult climatic conditions, this area, according to scientists, has always been rich in food. The natives called the Howard’s pass the word "Acutouch" (Akutuq). It was the name of their favorite treats that they prepared from whipped animal fat, sugar and berries. Snow patterns drawn by the wind on the pass Howard, resembled them a treat.
As for the weather, the climate record was recorded in these areas on 21 February 2013. In the afternoon the air temperature dips to around minus 43 degrees Celsius and the wind was blowing at a speed of about 87 km/h.
And this was not an isolated event. Close to the described conditions were recorded in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In the wind the temperature was even lower. Scientists believe that the Inuit waited in their homes by severe frosts, then went to the pass in search of frozen carcasses of the fallen from the cold caribou.
