The historic portion of the village was the subject of archaeological and ethnological research in the 1960s. Interviews with Dena'ina elders in Nondalton established that the people of Kijik relocated to Old Nondalton (not far from present-day Nondalton) in the early 20th century, probably to be closer to trading posts and the canneries of Bristol Bay. A survey expedition that visited the site in 1909 reported it to be abandoned. A major archaeological excavation of the historic village took place in 1966, exposing twelve foundational remnants of log houses (many of the houses having apparently been moved to Old Nondalton at the time of the relocation), and two of what appeared to be larger communal structures.[4]
In 1979, twelve acres of the village site were added to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.[2] A much larger area, encompassing a significant number of archaeological sites related to the habitation and use of the area from at least the 12th century forward, was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1994, for the unique concentration of sites related to the inland Dena'ina people.[3][5]
The community was known by many other names than "Kijik" during its history, including "Lake Clark Village", "Nijik", "Nikhkak", "Nikhak", and "Old Keegik". Its current name has been spelled in a wide variety of ways, including "Keechik", "Keeghik", "Keejik", "Keggik", "Keygik", "Kichak", "Kichik", "Kilchik", and "Kilchikh".
Kijik first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the unincorporated Tinneh village of "Kichik."[7] It appeared again on the 1890 U.S. Census as "Nikhkak." It has not reported since and was abandoned after 1900.
^ abFederal and state laws and practices restrict general public access to information regarding the specific location of this resource. In some cases, this is to protect archeological sites from vandalism, while in other cases it is restricted at the request of the owner. See: Knoerl, John; Miller, Diane; Shrimpton, Rebecca H. (1990), Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric Resources, National Register Bulletin, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, OCLC 20706997.
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February 15, 2023
kijik, alaska, kijik, dena, qizhjeh, ghost, town, lake, peninsula, borough, alaska, united, states, athabascan, village, that, established, shores, lake, clark, alaska, range, population, recorded, 1880, united, states, census, declined, thereafter, falling, a. Kijik Dena ina Qizhjeh is a ghost town in Lake and Peninsula Borough Alaska United States An Athabascan village that was established on the shores of Lake Clark in the Alaska Range its population was recorded at 91 in the 1880 United States Census and declined thereafter falling to approximately 25 individuals by 1904 Today the village has been abandoned The ghost town is located within the bounds of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Kijik Archeological DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic Landmark DistrictScenery in the districtLocationAddress restricted 1 Lake Clark National Park and PreserveNearest cityPort Alsworth AlaskaArea1 920 acres 780 ha NRHP reference No 94001644Significant datesAdded to NRHPOctober 12 1994 2 Designated NHLDOctober 12 1994 3 Kijik Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtLocationAddress restricted 1 Lake Clark National Park and PreserveNearest cityPort Alsworth AlaskaArea12 acres 4 9 ha NRHP reference No 79000410 2 Added to NRHPJanuary 29 1979The historic portion of the village was the subject of archaeological and ethnological research in the 1960s Interviews with Dena ina elders in Nondalton established that the people of Kijik relocated to Old Nondalton not far from present day Nondalton in the early 20th century probably to be closer to trading posts and the canneries of Bristol Bay A survey expedition that visited the site in 1909 reported it to be abandoned A major archaeological excavation of the historic village took place in 1966 exposing twelve foundational remnants of log houses many of the houses having apparently been moved to Old Nondalton at the time of the relocation and two of what appeared to be larger communal structures 4 In 1979 twelve acres of the village site were added to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district 2 A much larger area encompassing a significant number of archaeological sites related to the habitation and use of the area from at least the 12th century forward was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1994 for the unique concentration of sites related to the inland Dena ina people 3 5 The community was known by many other names than Kijik during its history including Lake Clark Village Nijik Nikhkak Nikhak and Old Keegik Its current name has been spelled in a wide variety of ways including Keechik Keeghik Keejik Keggik Keygik Kichak Kichik Kilchik and Kilchikh Demographics EditHistorical populationCensus Pop 188091 189042 53 8 U S Decennial Census 6 Kijik first appeared on the 1880 U S Census as the unincorporated Tinneh village of Kichik 7 It appeared again on the 1890 U S Census as Nikhkak It has not reported since and was abandoned after 1900 See also EditList of National Historic Landmarks in Alaska National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake and Peninsula Borough Alaska National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake Clark National Park and PreserveReferences Edit a b Federal and state laws and practices restrict general public access to information regarding the specific location of this resource In some cases this is to protect archeological sites from vandalism while in other cases it is restricted at the request of the owner See Knoerl John Miller Diane Shrimpton Rebecca H 1990 Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric Resources National Register Bulletin National Park Service U S Department of the Interior OCLC 20706997 a b c National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 a b Kijik Archeological District National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Archived from the original on 2011 06 06 Retrieved 2008 01 04 Vanstone James Townsend Joan January 16 1970 Kijik An Historic Tanaina Settlement Fieldiana Anthropology 15 1 202 JSTOR 29782443 National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory Professional Procedures Guide PDF National Park Service Retrieved 2014 12 05 U S Decennial Census Census gov Archived from the original on May 7 2015 Retrieved June 6 2013 Geological Survey Professional Paper 1949 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kijik Archeological District Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kijik Alaska amp oldid 1117862240, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
