Alaska Archaeology Month Poster - 2016

Thule Tradition

About 1,000 years ago bold and resourceful Thule hunters in small, skin-covered boats called an umiat regularly faced off against whales seven times their size and weighing some 40 tons. Whaling was so integral to Thule life that whaling captains and their families ranked highest in status in the community and whales were interwoven into Thule religion.

Alaska’s 2016 poster was recognized as the best in the nation in the Society for American Archaeology‘s annual archaeology month poster competition.

About Archaeology Month Posters

The archaeological heritage of 42 states is celebrated each year during their respective archaeology months or weeks. April is Archaeology Month in Alaska, by proclamation of the governor. Educational posters are produced by each state to promote awareness of the value of archaeology and archaeological resources. Posters are sent to schools, libraries, agencies, and institutions throughout the state.

Production of the annual Alaska Archaeology Month poster is coordinated by the Alaska Anthropological Association’s Public Education Group. Sponsors include the National Park Service, Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, Colorado State University Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Land Management, University of Alaska Anchorage Department of Anthropology, the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Cultural Resources Division.