Birnirk National Historic Site (known as Piġniq) is located on the coast of the Chukchi Sea near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska. Piġniq is an Inupiaq word meaning “junction” or “articulation” and describes the topography of the archaeological site’s lagoon. The technology developed at this site (and other Birnirk tradition sites) contributed to the rapid spread of populations in the Arctic regions of North America and Greenland.
The landmark consists of a series of approximately 20 mounds on coastal ridges. The mounds reach 14 feet in height and are dotted with the submerged remains of house ruins and hiding places. The mounds were formed by the construction of new houses on the ruins of old structures over hundreds of years.
The population at the site of Birnirk (Pignik) was small, perhaps two or three houses during one occupation. The houses at the site were square and approximately 12 feet wide. The walls and roofs were framed with driftwood and whalebones, and the roofs were covered with sod. The entrances were below the level of the plank floor to keep the heat in.
As people lived on the site of Birnirk (Pġniq) in ancient times, the lowering of sea levels left a series of ridges that were former gravel banks. Recently, as sea levels have been rising, much of the archaeological site has been washed away in the Elson Lagoon next to the site.
During the Birnirk period, the main animal resources were seals, fish, birds, caribou, and smaller land mammals. Whales were rarely caught. The artifacts found in Birnirk (Pġniq) were used for domestic life, hunting, fishing, and travel. A significant find in the Birnirk National Historic Site is the remains of a 1000-year-old umiyak. Some parts still have decorative ivory inlays and whisker binding. Boats made of wood and animal parts are extremely rare in archaeological sites.