Dates: May – June 2014

Clients/Referring: National Science Foundation, Polar Field Services

Description:  Island C provided vessel support for the Gateway to the America’s Project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of Polar Programs (OPP). The operations took place off the coast of Suemez Island on outer Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest.  This work is part of a multi-year project funded by the NSF to Dr. Jim Dixon to continue underwater modeling and archaeological surveys to identify ancient archaeological remains on the continental shelf in Southeastern Alaska. Dr. Dixon hopes to uncover new information about the first people to populate the Americas–those who traveled across the Bering land bridge some 13,000 years ago.  Since the melting of the ice age glaciers, sea levels have risen several hundred feet, submerging any artifacts these first Americans may have left along the coasts. An international team of researchers used underwater equipment including a submersible Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) and air hose lift systems for transporting sediments from the seafloor onto the ship.