Our Submerged Past: Exploring Inundated Late Pleistocene (10,600 - 17,000 years ago) Caves in Southeast Alaska with Sunfish
May 15-June 4, 2022 / May 24-June 10, 2023
Expedition Features
These expedition features provide updates and reflections on experiences, science, technology, and other elements of the Our Submerged Past expedition. View Expedition Overview
What is microdebitage?
August 28, 2023
Microdebitage refers to small fragments, less than one millimeter in size, produced when stone tools are created. These fragments can help archaeologists identify areas where stone tools were made, which in turn can help to locate archaeological sites in areas that could not be excavated by traditional methods, including underwater sites.
Read moreHow Southeast Alaska is Essential for the Peopling of the Americas
August 22, 2023
During the Our Submerged Past: Exploring Inundated Late Pleistocene (10,600 - 17,000 years ago) Caves in Southeast Alaska with Sunfish expedition, the team searched for submerged entrances to ancient caves and rock shelters that would have been accessible to early inhabitants of the region.
Read moreOur Submerged Past: An Internship Experience
August 9, 2023
From May 24 to June 11, 2023, Taylor Heaton worked with the Our Submerged Past: Exploring Inundated Late Pleistocene (10,600 - 17,000 years ago) Caves in Southeast Alaska expedition team as an intern with the Sealaska Heritage Institute.
Read moreOur Submerged Past 2023 Field Summary
July 26, 2023
From May 25 through June 10, 2023, our team of Indigenous Alaskans, local community members, and scientists explored and sampled the continental shelf west of Prince of Wales Island in southeast Alaska.
Read moreSUNFISH® Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
May 23, 2023
Underwater caves are some of the most difficult places on this planet for us to explore. Unlocking the secrets of such difficult-to-access, uncharted features requires cutting-edge technology, and that’s where the SUNFISH® autonomous underwater vehicle comes in.
Read moreSealaska Heritage Institute to Sponsor Lecture by Archaeologist Detailing Discovery of Ancient Stone Fish Weir
December 8, 2022
In her lecture, underwater archaeologist Dr. Kelly Monteleone will expound upon the research team’s significant find, which is the oldest stone weir ever found in the world. The trap is estimated to date to at least 11,100 years ago.
Read moreScientists Discover Ancient Underwater Fish Weir in Southeast Alaska
October 21, 2022
A team of scientists exploring an underwater region of southern Southeast Alaska has discovered what might be the oldest stone fish weir ever found in the world.
Read moreYear 1 Expedition Update
June 23, 2022
We have just returned from three weeks of surveying in southeast Alaska. We had amazing weather. The image below is of Cape Addington’s Roller Bay on the southwest side of Noyes Island. The morning fog would evaporate to reveal a beautiful flat ocean, though, on this day, the ocean swell off the Pacific made things more difficult.
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