Archaeologists discover the oldest dwelling in the Western Hemisphere at a 13,800-year-old site in Alaska

Archaeologists have discovered a 13,800-year-old dwelling in a remote site in interior Alaska, which may represent the earliest known domesticated dogs, needles, and dwellings in the Western Hemisphere. The site, known as Shégˊ Xdaltthˊíˊ, located 34 miles southeast of Fairbanks, contains thousands of artifacts and fossils. The researchers found a hearth, a small pit, and a dirt stain where a wooden post likely stood, indicating the presence of an early tent house.

They also discovered stone tools, bone needles, and a pendant made from antler, as well as an earth oven filled with charcoal and animal bones. The stone tools, known as diamond-shaped hafted bifaces, are distinctively shaped and similar to those found in northern Siberia, suggesting cultural connections across the Bering Land Bridge.

The bones of wolf-like animals found at the site suggest a further connection to Asia. The presence of bone artifacts in a sewing kit and a pendant crafted from antler indicate connections with early American sites south of the Canadian ice sheets. The researchers believe the people at Shégˊ Xdaltthˊíˊ were likely dog owners and were traveling between Asia and the Americas. Further excavations in Beringia are needed to learn more about the earliest people in the Americas.