A terminal Pleistocene child cremation and residential structure from eastern Beringia

Science. 2011 Feb 25;331(6020):1058-62. doi: 10.1126/science.1201581.

Abstract

The dearth of human remains and residential sites has constrained inquiry into Beringian lifeways at the transition of the late Pleistocene-early Holocene. We report on human skeletal remains and a residential structure from central Alaska dated to ~11,500 calendar years ago. The remains are from a ~3-year-old child who was cremated in a pit within a semisubterranean house. The burial-cremation and house have exceptional integrity and preservation and exhibit similarities and differences to both Siberian Upper Paleolithic and North American Paleoindian features.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alaska
  • Animals
  • Archaeology
  • Burial / history*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cremation / history*
  • Culture*
  • History, Ancient
  • Humans