Chugachik Island facts for kids
 Chugachik
Location in Alaska
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Kachemak Bay |
| Coordinates | 59°44′43″N 151°2′46″W / 59.74528°N 151.04611°W |
| Highest elevation | 43 ft (13.1 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Kenai Peninsula Borough |
| Additional information | |
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Chugachik Island Site
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| Location | Address restricted |
| Nearest city | Homer, Alaska |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002279 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1976 |
Chugachik Island is a small, special island located in Kachemak Bay, a beautiful part of south-central Alaska. It's part of the amazing Kachemak Bay State Park. This island might be small, but it holds big secrets about people who lived there a very long time ago!
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Discovering Chugachik Island's Past
Chugachik Island is super important to archaeologists. These are scientists who study human history by digging up old things. They've found at least two main spots on Chugachik Island where ancient people lived.
What Did Archaeologists Find?
One important spot is like an ancient trash heap, called a midden. But it's not just trash! It's full of clues about daily life. Scientists found remains of plants and animals there. They also found tools made from stone and bone. Even a baby cradle made of birch bark was discovered!
How Old Are These Finds?
Archaeologists dug at this site in 1974 and 1977. They used a cool method called radiocarbon dating to figure out how old things are. This method showed that people lived on the island around 360 BCE (that's over 2,300 years ago!).
Another digging site was explored in 1982. This one had three different layers, showing that people lived there at different times. The oldest things found here were from the early 1st century BCE.
Evidence of the Tanaina People
The newest layer at the second site showed that the Tanaina people lived there in the late 1800s. This was a really exciting discovery! It was the first time anyone found proof that the Tanaina people had lived in this specific area.
A Protected Historical Site
Because of its rich history, a part of Chugachik Island is now protected. About 1.2 acres of the island were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place in the United States.
