A piece of slate, fashioned as a net sinker, was found last year during ground work at the former Wrangell Institute property which is being developed for a residential subdivision. Archaeologists believe the item could be from prehistoric times.
A blue plastic baseball, part of a wooden clarinet, a glass Horlicks malted milk bottle, a 1938 Mercury dime and a net sinker made of slate, potentially from prehistoric times. All these items were discovered on the property of the former Wrangell Institute during archaeological monitoring completed last fall.
The borough is developing the property of the former Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school into the Alder Top Village (Keishangita.'aan) subdivision and plans to offer 20 residential lots for sale this summer.
The Wrangell Institute operated from 1932 to 1975, a period during which thousands of students, high school and elementary school aged, were sent to the boarding school just upland of Shoemaker Bay.
The borough worked with the State Historic Preservation Office during clearing work to develop the property into the residential subdivision. The borough was obligated to have an archaeologist on site during any ground disturbance, said Amber Al-Haddad, the borough's capital facilities director.
The archaeological work was contracted to True North Sustainable Development Solutions, of Wasilla, which has an archaeology team on staff.
According to information provided by True North's Robert Meinhardt, principal consultant, and Tiffany Ann Curtis, project archaeologist, the slate net sinker could have been associated with prehistoric use of the land, though they can't know for sure with the data provided. Net sinkers were small stones that were notched and tied to fishing nets, lines and traps.
There was no other evidence of prehistoric occupancy or activity on the property.
The borough has the sinker and plans to give it to the Wrangell Cooperative Association along with other items discovered during further work at the site.
The other four items found last fall were all dated between 1930 and 1970, the years that the school was in operation, and were likely left there by students or staff.
The archaeologists looked for anything with cultural meaning, anything modified by humans, or any human remains that might qualify for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, said Meinhardt.
Al-Haddad noted that when anything is found during site work, construction stops and the state office is contacted.
During the archaeological monitoring, the borough's directive was to collect any artifacts that seemed to be associated with the school, especially toys, said Meinhardt.
Meinhardt also said that having archaeologists present ensures that damage is avoided or minimized to cultural resources during construction. Archaeologists are also trained to investigate, document and research findings of anything unknown that is found.
More archaeological monitoring will be required when underground utilities are installed for the residential subdivision. Al-Haddad said anything found that is associated with prehistoric use will be given to the Wrangell Cooperative Association.
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