Radiocarbon Dating in the Arctic

Radiocarbon dates for the Arctic thus far determined by Arnold and Libby represent four time levels. The latest dates are for the Eskimo period. These are derived from wood samples from five sites in northern and northwestern Alaska ranging in age from 912 ± 170 (Ipiutak) to 2258 ± 230 years (Okvik). Johnson's site in Yukon Territory, Canada, dated at 1519±150 years, would also fall within this period if the assigned date is correct; however, the site is probably considerably older than this. Next in age is an early site in the Aleutian Islands with a date, from charcoal samples, of 3018±230 years. The age of the Trail Creek cave on Seward Peninsula is given as 5993±280 years. This is a pre-Eskimo site related to the Denbigh Flint complex; the latter has not as yet been dated. Two dates have been obtained from the Pleistocene muck deposits near Fairbanks, one sample at 12,622±750, and another at over 20,000 years (Arnold and Libby, 1951).