What happened to the Yup'ik archaeological site in Quinhagak, Alaska?

The Nunalleq archaeological site in Quinhagak, Alaska was severely damaged by a storm in October 2025, with an estimated 100,000 Yup'ik artifacts scattered and lost.

How did the storm impact the Quinhagak community?

The storm's destruction of the archaeological site has left major gaps in the understanding of Yup'ik life before the arrival of outsiders. The community, which relies heavily on subsistence food gathering, also faces ongoing threats from climate change, including melting permafrost and coastal erosion.

What is the Nunalleq archaeological project?

The Nunalleq project has been studying the world's largest collection of pre-contact Yup'ik artifacts found at the archaeological site in Quinhagak, Alaska. The project has combined traditional Yup'ik knowledge with modern archaeological techniques to learn about the community's past.

Home / Environment / Alaskan Village Loses Thousands of Priceless Artifacts in Devastating Storm

Alaskan Village Loses Thousands of Priceless Artifacts in Devastating Storm

30 Oct

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Summary

Typhoon Halong destroys archaeological site in Quinhagak, Alaska
Over 100,000 Yup'ik artifacts scattered and lost
Melting permafrost and coastal erosion pose ongoing threats

Alaskan Village Loses Thousands of Priceless Artifacts in Devastating Storm

On October 11-12, 2025, the remnants of Typhoon Halong struck the western Alaskan community of Quinhagak, near the edge of the Bering Sea. While the village was spared the widespread devastation seen in neighboring areas, it suffered a different kind of blow. The lashing winds and storm surge devoured dozens of feet of shoreline, disrupting a culturally significant archaeological site and washing away possibly thousands of unearthed artifacts.

Archaeologist Rick Knecht, who has worked on the Nunalleq, or old village, project for 17 years, estimates that around 100,000 pieces, including wooden masks and tools, were left scattered by the storm. This is roughly the same number of artifacts previously recovered from the site, which has yielded the world's largest collection of pre-contact Yup'ik artifacts.