National Historic Landmark

Dry Creek Archeological Site

Lignite, Yukon-Koyukuk County, Alaska
Listed
September 5, 1974
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
74000442

About this property

The Dry Creek Archeological Site is located on the northern flanks of the Alaska Range, near Healy, Alaska, in the Nenana River watershed, not far outside Denali National Park and Preserve. It is a multi-component site, whose stratified remains have yielded evidence of human occupation as far back as 11,000 years ago. There are four major components to the site, layered in an outwash terrace overlooking Dry Creek, with layers of loess (wind-deposited materials) separating them. The most recent component of the site dates to 2600–1400 BCE. The youngest component is one of the few places in the Alaskan interior where notched projectile points have been found. The two oldest components are dated to 8,500–9,000 BCE, and include assemblages of microblade stone technology. The bottom layer yielded a collection of more than 3,500 artifacts, primarily stone flakes. One of the more prominent finds is a stone scraping tool with a triangular head, measuring 31 by 16 millimetres (1.22 in × 0.63 in). Multiple types of stone tools have been found at the site, as have remains of processing a variety of animals. The site is valuable for the insight it yields into the critical transitional period at the end of the most recent Ice Age. The site was first discovered by C. E. Holmes in 1973, with major excavations following in the late 1970s, with further research occurring in the 1990s. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978.

Location

Lignite, Yukon-Koyukuk County, Alaska

Categories

PREHISTORIC
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Questions about this property

When was Dry Creek Archeological Site listed on the National Register?

Dry Creek Archeological Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Dry Creek Archeological Site?

Dry Creek Archeological Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Dry Creek Archeological Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Dry Creek Archeological Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Dry Creek Archeological Site?

The period of significance for Dry Creek Archeological Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Dry Creek Archeological Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Dry Creek Archeological Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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