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Magnetic Island (Alaska)

Coordinates: 60°14′36″N 152°50′51″W / 60.24333°N 152.84750°W / 60.24333; -152.84750
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Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is located in Alaska
Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island
Geography
LocationTuxedni Bay, Cook Inlet
Coordinates60°14′36″N 152°50′51″W / 60.24333°N 152.84750°W / 60.24333; -152.84750
Highest elevation152 m (499 ft)
Administration
StateAlaska
BoroughKenai Peninsula Borough
Magnetic Island Site
LocationAddress restricted[2]
NRHP reference No.15000071[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 17, 2015

Magnetic Island is a small island on the north side of Tuxedni Bay, an inlet on the lower west side of Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska. The island is surrounded by mudflats that are under water during high tides. The island got its name from the presence of magnetism (believed due to magnetite) identified during a geological survey in 1951. Its shape and geology are heavily influenced by Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna, two active volcanoes located less than 20 miles (32 km) away.

The island has archaeological significance, which includes a prehistoric human habitation site which has been dated to c. 1800–1400 BCE. The site consists of a series of depressions that were excavated in 2012, yielding several layers of cultural materials, including fire-cracked stones and hearths, and stone tools stylistically associated with the Arctic Small Tool tradition. The site was presumed to be abandoned due to volcanic activity.[3]

The archaeological site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Federal and state laws and practices restrict general public access to information regarding the specific location of this resource. In some cases, this is to protect archeological sites from vandalism, while in other cases it is restricted at the request of the owner. See: Knoerl, John; Miller, Diane; Shrimpton, Rebecca H. (1990), Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric Resources, National Register Bulletin, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, OCLC 20706997.
  3. ^ Rogers, Jason; et al. (2013). "The Arctic Small Tool Tradition on Cook Inlet: The Magnetic Island Site, Tuxnedi Bay, Alaska". Alaska Journal of Anthropology. 11: 119–138.