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<< Other Photo Pages >> On-Your-Knees Cave - Cave or Rock Shelter in United States in Alaska

Submitted by bat400 on Tuesday, 23 October 2007  Page Views: 7482

Natural PlacesSite Name: On-Your-Knees Cave Alternative Name: 49-PET-408
Country: United States Region: Alaska Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Nearest Town: Port Protection, AK  Nearest Village: Baker Point, AK
Latitude: 56.333870N  Longitude: 133.59154W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
1 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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On-Your-Knees Cave
On-Your-Knees Cave submitted by Creative Commons : Timothy H. Heaton at the entrance of the On Your Knees Cave 2000 by Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons Licence photo) (Vote or comment on this photo)
Cave in Prince of Wales County, Alaska.
This coastal cave has been used to argue the Coastal Migration Theory of the peopling of North America. Finds of animal bones indicate that this portion of the Alaskan coast was ice free for portions of the last Ice Age. And human remains (disarticulated bones) dating to 8300 BC were found during digs in the late 1990's.

From bat400: The site lies at the northern end of Prince of Wales Island, on a steep creek slope inland from the current coast. Layers of silt and years of animal bone indicate its use as a den, and much later finds of stone and bone tools point to its use by hunters.

More can be found at this web page devoted to the dig.

From AKFisher: On Your Knees Cave (49-PET-408) is an archaeological site located in southeastern Alaska (Prince of Wales Island). Human remains were found at the site in 1996 that dated between 9,730 ±60 and 9,880±50 radiocarbon YBP (Years Before Present)[1] or a calendrical date of 10,300 YBP.[2] In addition to human skeletal remains, stone tools and animal bones were discovered. DNA analyses performed on the human skeletal remains document the presence of mitochondrial haplogroup D which occurs widely in the Americas.[2] Isotopic analysis indicated that the individual had a primarily marine based diet.

Location:
On Your Knees Cave is located on the northern tip of Prince of Wales Island within the Tongass National Forest. Its location is approximately one kilometer from the coast and 125 meters above sea level.[3] Originally, the entrance of the cave was obstructed by large rocks and soil that had fallen from the cliff above, and covered with vegetation. After the obstructions were cleared, the small entrance later gave the cave its name. Inside is a long tunnel with an extremely low ceiling with old bear dens throughout.

Discovery:
The site was first discovered in 1993 by the Tongass Cave Project, a joint cooperation between the Tongass National Forest and the National Speleological Society. Starting the following year, old bear dens within the cave were explored and numerous animal bones began to be found. Many different animal species were found during the excavations, including species now extinct on the island.[4] After the discovery of animal bones in 1994, Timothy Heaton, paleontologist with the University of South Dakota-Vermillion at the time, led the research project, assisted in 1996 and after by Fred Grady with the Smithsonian Institution. Brian Kemp, a molecular anthropologist, and E. James Dixon assisted in the analyses.[5] However, the discovery of human skeletal remains in 1996 changed the direction of the research project.

The human skeletal remains included a mandible with all but the incisors, partial remains of a right pelvis and other small fragments, 5 vertebrae, 3 maxillary incisors, and 1 maxillary canine.[2] Stone tools were found among the animal and human bones. The stone tool material, obsidian, suggests trade or movement[1] across water and land boundaries in the area.

Significance:
On Your Knees Cave is currently one of the earliest known settlements along the Northwest Coast of North America. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was extracted from one of the individual's molars. The genetic analysis revealed that the individual, dubbed Shuká Káa (Tlingit: Man Ahead Of Us)[6] was a male. Further examination of the teeth indicated that the man died in his mid-twenties. Through mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the individual was determined to be a member of a subgroup of haplogroup D,[2][7] marking the earliest occurrence of this haplogroup.[7] This haplogroup is found in populations along the western coast of the Americas.[2][5] A tribal group in the area of the discovery, the Tlingit, submitted DNA samples to be compared to the On Your Knees Cave individual. However, no match was found, indicating that the individual and modern Alaska Native American tribes are likely not closely related,[8] although this does not mean that ancient Alaskan Native American groups would not have been closely related to the individual.

Isotopic analyses conducted on the human skeletal remains revealed this individual's diet was almost entirely marine protein.[9] This, given On Your Knees Cave's location on an island, suggests a maritime adaptation was present at an early time level in this region.[9]

One hundred animal bones samples from On Your Knees Cave underwent carbon-14 dating and the results indicated that during the past 40,000 years there was almost continuous occupation and use of the cave by animals, indicating the island was never completely glaciated or uninhabitable during this interval.[10] The stone tools that were found within the cave were made at the site, but not of materials known to be from the site such as obsidian.[1] Some of this obsidian was sourced from the Mount Edziza volcanic complex in British Columbia, Canada, and is dubbed Edziza obsidian.[11] Since the cave site is on an island and the lithic material was not known to the site, researchers have suggested that the individual and others at that time were mariners who could cross bodies of water by boats. The evidence from this site suggesting a marine based diet, extralocal artifacts, and a maritime adaptation supports a coastal migration model for the first Americans as proposed by K.R. Fladmark in 1979.[12]

References:
  1. Saleeby, Becky M. (2010). "Ancient Footsteps in a New Land: Building an Inventory of the Earliest Alaskan Sites". Arctic Anthropology. 47 (2): 116–132. doi:10.1353/arc.2010.0004. S2CID 163145435.
  2. Kemp, Brian M.; Malhi, RS; McDonough, J; Bolnick, DA; Eshleman, JA; Rickards, O; Martinez-Labarga, C; Johnson, JR; et al. (2007). "Genetic Analysis of Early Holocene Skeletal Remains From Alaska and its Implications for the Settlement of the Americas". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 132 (4): 605–21. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.576.7832. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20543. PMID 17243155.
  3. Heaton, Timothy H. "Southeast Alaska: On Your Knees Cave". Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  4. Fifield, Terence E. "Human Remains Found in Alaska Reported to be 9,730 Years Old". SAA Bulletin. SAA Bulletin. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  5. Casselman, Anne (2008). "Tooth DNA Dates the First Americans". Discover. 29 (1): 43.
  6. Raff, Jennifer. "Introduction". Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas.
  7. Mayes, Arion T. (2010). "These Bones Are Read: The Science and Politics of Ancient Native America". American Indian Quarterly. 34 (2): 131–156. doi:10.1353/aiq.0.0106. S2CID 145783644.
  8. Lawler, Andrew (2010). "A Tale of Two Skeletons". Science. 339 (6001): 171–172. doi:10.1126/science.330.6001.171. PMID 20929752.
  9. Carlson, Roy L. (1998). "Coastal British Columbia in the Light of North Pacific Maritime Adaptations". Arctic Anthropology. 35 (1): 23–35.
  10. Society for Science and the Public (2000). "Paleontology: The Last Ice Age wasn't Totally Icy". Science News. 158 (20): 317. doi:10.2307/4018796. JSTOR 4018796.
  11. "Archaeological Overview Assessment of the Cassiar Forest Corporation's Forest Development Unit" (PDF). Government of British Columbia. 2010. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  12. Fladmark, K.R. (1979). "Routes: Alternate Migration Corridors for Early Man in North America". American Antiquity. 44 (1): 55–69. doi:10.2307/279189. JSTOR 279189. S2CID 162243347.
Further reading and information:
  • Dixon, James; Worl, Rosita; Swenson, Greg (September 19, 2006). "Discovery of Ancient Human Remains Sparks Partnership, Documentary". University of Colorado–Boulder. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012.
  • Lovgren, Stefan (February 2, 2007). "First Americans Arrived Recently, Settled Pacific Coast, DNA Study Says". National Geographic, Daily News.
  • Rozell, Ned (December 7, 2000). "(On Your Knees) Southeast Cave Reveals Clues to Ancient Alaska". Alaska Science Forum. Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks (Article 1520). Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  • Rozell, Ned (May 29, 2003). "Searching for Ancient Answers in Southeast Alaska". Alaska Science Forum. Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  • Rozell, Ned (July 5, 2006). "Lessons from the Oldest Man in Alaska Tests". Alaska Science Forum. Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
Directions: From Port Protection, AK via local roads, 2.8 mi
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On-Your-Knees Cave
On-Your-Knees Cave submitted by AKFisher : Photo credit: U.S. Forest Service. (Vote or comment on this photo)

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"On-Your-Knees Cave" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Re: Feds Return Alaska Remains to Tlingit by Anonymous on Thursday, 25 October 2007
Yes, this is a huge breakthrough. Sadly, in the Lower 48 things are still not as clear-cut. I argued for a similar outcome in my book, Respect for the Ancestors: American Indian Cultural Affiliation in the American West, but based on the empirical evidence. Both the Kennewick Man and the Spirit Cave Mummy, along with other early Holocene skeletons, can established as culturally affiliated with today's tribes based on the preponderance of the evidence. However, hopefully this and the new NAGPRA language (if it passes the Senate) will help future situations.
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Re: Feds Return Alaska Remains to Tlingit by Condros on Tuesday, 23 October 2007
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This is a great breakthrough, when Federal Agencies, Archeologists, and Native Tribes can work out an agreement to study the human remains, and than hand them over to the native tribes for re-burial. Here at least they could identify what tribe the remains came from, whereas with Kennewick Man and a few other early human remains, no tribal identification was made, or whether such an attempt was made.
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Feds Return Alaska Remains to Tlingit by bat400 on Tuesday, 23 October 2007
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Submitted by coldrum---

Human remains estimated to be more than 10,000 years old that were found in a cave in the Tongass National Forest rightfully belong to the southeast Alaska Tlingit tribes, the federal government said.

Now, 11 years after they were found during a U.S. Forest Service archaeological survey, the remains will be returned to the tribe, agency officials announced Friday. It will be the first time a federal agency has handed custody of such ancient finds over to an indigenous group under the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, they said.


``It's a pretty substantial find,'' said Tongass spokesman Phil Sammon.

Vertebrae, ribs, teeth, a mandible and a pelvic bone were among the remains discovered in 1996 during a government archaeological survey for a proposed timber sale on northern Prince of Wales Island. The area is the aboriginal homeland for Tlingit tribes.

Stone tools also were found inside On Your Knees Cave, an extensive limestone network.

The Forest Service immediately consulted with area tribes as required by the repatriation law, which mandates that federal agencies and institutions receiving federal money return American Indian remains and cultural items to tribes.

There was never any dispute that the remains should go to Tlingit tribes in Craig and Klawock, communities on the island, officials said. The tribes and Sealaska Corp. - the southeast Alaska Native regional corporation - in February petitioned the agency for custody of the remains.

The petition came after a lengthy process that included scientific analysis that determined the remains were 10,300 years old. Through DNA and other testing, researchers identified the remains as belonging to an indigenous man in his early 20s who subsisted primarily on seafood.

Some tribal members initially balked at allowing the studies to be done instead of immediate interment. But in the end they backed a study after determining the remains were scattered in the cave - possibly by scavengers - and not taken from a burial site.

In the remains, the tribes perceived an ancestor offering himself for knowledge and learning, said anthropologist Rosita Worl, president of Sealaska Heritage Institute, the nonprofit cultural and educational arm of the Native corporation.

``The elders also saw it as a way of validating our ancient presence here in southeast Alaska,'' said Worl, a Tlingit. ``A number of elders have said it proves we've been here since time immemorial.''

The find also could support a theory that people migrated from Asia as well as oral Tlingit histories about coastal migrations, according to Worl. ``We're very, very excited and very proud of our people,'' she said.

Finding remains so old is uncommon but not unheard of, said Sherry Hutt, repatriation program manager for the National Park Service. What stood out about the Tlingit case, she said, is the level of cooperation involved.

``The Forest Service went through the process carefully and methodically. It consulted with the locals and came to a decision based on analysis of the facts,'' she said. ``The process of consultation enhances the body of knowledge. This is a good example of it.''


The remains are being held by the Forest Service while the tribes plan a ceremonial burial at the discovery site.



For more, see
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass.

http://www.sealaskaheritage.org

http://www.nps.gov/history/nagpra

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7011030,00.html
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