National Geographic History - USA (2022-03 & 2022-04)

TREASURES OF NUNALLEQ

THREAT

OF THE

THAW

EDITORS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

As the seas rise and Alaska’s permafrost melts,

the history of the Yup’ik people is in danger as

archaeological sites and artifacts become exposed

to the ravages of time and climate change.

HISTORY AT RISK

Many of the artifacts recovered from

the Nunalleq site are made from

antler, wood, and ivory, materials that

are preserved under the tundra but

decay quickly after exposure.

KIERAN DODDS/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION