The Archaeology of Beringian Caves More Broadly

Trail Creek Cave 2 is one of several cave sites on the Seward Peninsula and in the broader Alaska-Beringia region that have been investigated for evidence of Pleistocene and early Holocene human and animal presence.

Understanding Trail Creek in the context of this broader cave archaeology helps situate the finding within the regional archaeological picture.

Cave sites in this region have attracted archaeological attention because of their preservation potential — as noted earlier, caves provide more favorable conditions for organic preservation than most open-air sites in the Arctic.

The alkaline chemistry of cave sediments, the moderated temperature fluctuations inside the cave, and the shelter from direct precipitation all contribute to the relative preservation of organic materials that would not survive in open-air contexts.