Yukon Island is an island in outer Kachemak Bay, an inlet of the Cook Inlet of south central Alaska. The island is located about 9 miles (14 km) south of Homer.[4] The island is archaeologically sensitive, with a number of sites documenting the prehistory of the bay. The Yukon Island Main Site, a National Historic Landmark, is a major shell midden site at which the pioneering archaeologist Frederica de Laguna was able to sequence 1500 years of the area's prehistory, and other sites have been found on the island since then. The island is now home to an educational retreat center.
Yukon Island is a heavily wooded island, about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long. It has a rocky shoreline with steep, eroding cliffs, and a rugged interior forested with sitka spruce and hemlock. Its highest point has an elevation of about 500 feet (150 m). The island subsided by about 2 feet (0.61 m) as a result of the 1964 Alaska earthquake, resulting in significant erosion along its shores.[5]
The island is located near the south shore of the mouth of Kachemak Bay, an inlet on the east side of Cook Inlet. The bay is a biologically rich environment in comparison to Cook Inlet and the outer shores of the Kenai Peninsula. Its location is of strategic benefit to small craft negotiating the coastline.[5]
Archaeologyedit
The Main Site on the island was discovered in 1924, at which time ancient female human remains were discovered in an eroding shell midden. The site was investigated in depth by Frederica de Laguna in the 1930s, as a result of which she was able to construct a 1500-year chronology of use. Her work laid the foundation for later research in the region, which has largely confirmed her initial timeline. This site has been a regular subject of archaeological research; it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. This site was particularly affected by the 1964 earthquake, and is subject to erosion.[5]
A detailed survey of the island identified five additional midden sites in 1976. One of these, designated SEL-041, has a midden 12 feet (3.7 m) deep, with historical refuse on top of it. The midden is part of what is interpreted as a village site, which has yielded radio carbon dates of CE 1100–1300.
Yukon Island Centeredit
The Yukon Island Center is an educational retreat center located on a small portion of the island. Built on land cleared in the 1970s, its construction and opening were delayed by the discovery of archaeological sites at its planned location. Opened in 1991, it hosts education groups of 50–60 people.[6]
^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.
^"Yukon Island Main Site". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Yukon Island
^ abcNational Historic Landmark nomination for Yukon Island Main Site (redacted); available by request from the National Park Service.
^"History". Yukon Island Center. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
External linksedit
Yukon Island Center web site
January 01, 1970
yukon, island, confused, with, yukon, island, outer, kachemak, inlet, cook, inlet, south, central, alaska, island, located, about, miles, south, homer, island, archaeologically, sensitive, with, number, sites, documenting, prehistory, main, site, national, his. Not to be confused with Yukon Yukon Island is an island in outer Kachemak Bay an inlet of the Cook Inlet of south central Alaska The island is located about 9 miles 14 km south of Homer 4 The island is archaeologically sensitive with a number of sites documenting the prehistory of the bay The Yukon Island Main Site a National Historic Landmark is a major shell midden site at which the pioneering archaeologist Frederica de Laguna was able to sequence 1500 years of the area s prehistory and other sites have been found on the island since then The island is now home to an educational retreat center Yukon IslandYukon IslandGeographyLocationKachemak BayCoordinates59 31 21 N 151 29 36 W 59 52250 N 151 49333 W 59 52250 151 49333Highest elevation43 ft 13 1 m AdministrationUnited States of AmericaStateAlaskaBoroughKenai Peninsula BoroughYukon Island Main SiteU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkAlaska Heritage Resources SurveyExcavations at the Yukon Island Main SiteLocationAddress restricted 2 Nearest cityHomer AlaskaNRHP reference No 66000955 1 AHRS No SEL 001Significant datesAdded to NRHPOctober 15 1966Designated NHLDecember 29 1962 3 Contents 1 Description 2 Archaeology 3 Yukon Island Center 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription editYukon Island is a heavily wooded island about 1 mile 1 6 km wide and 1 3 miles 2 1 km long It has a rocky shoreline with steep eroding cliffs and a rugged interior forested with sitka spruce and hemlock Its highest point has an elevation of about 500 feet 150 m The island subsided by about 2 feet 0 61 m as a result of the 1964 Alaska earthquake resulting in significant erosion along its shores 5 The island is located near the south shore of the mouth of Kachemak Bay an inlet on the east side of Cook Inlet The bay is a biologically rich environment in comparison to Cook Inlet and the outer shores of the Kenai Peninsula Its location is of strategic benefit to small craft negotiating the coastline 5 Archaeology editThe Main Site on the island was discovered in 1924 at which time ancient female human remains were discovered in an eroding shell midden The site was investigated in depth by Frederica de Laguna in the 1930s as a result of which she was able to construct a 1500 year chronology of use Her work laid the foundation for later research in the region which has largely confirmed her initial timeline This site has been a regular subject of archaeological research it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 This site was particularly affected by the 1964 earthquake and is subject to erosion 5 A detailed survey of the island identified five additional midden sites in 1976 One of these designated SEL 041 has a midden 12 feet 3 7 m deep with historical refuse on top of it The midden is part of what is interpreted as a village site which has yielded radio carbon dates of CE 1100 1300 Yukon Island Center editThe Yukon Island Center is an educational retreat center located on a small portion of the island Built on land cleared in the 1970s its construction and opening were delayed by the discovery of archaeological sites at its planned location Opened in 1991 it hosts education groups of 50 60 people 6 See also editList of National Historic Landmarks in Alaska National Register of Historic Places listings in Kenai Peninsula Borough AlaskaReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 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 Yukon Island Main Site National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Retrieved 2008 01 06 U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Yukon Island a b c National Historic Landmark nomination for Yukon Island Main Site redacted available by request from the National Park Service History Yukon Island Center Retrieved 2015 02 08 External links editYukon Island Center web site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yukon Island amp oldid 1015166178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
