A university student uncovered a tiny footprint in Alaska that survived for centuries underground, and helped scientists understand prehistoric childhood

An imprint on the ground at an Alaskan archaeological dig site is allowing archaeologists to gain insight into the human presence in interior Alaska some two millennia ago. The footprint was unearthed in 2017 at Swan Point, an important prehistoric settlement in Alaska, by a university student who was working there. According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the footprint was found close to what has been described as the living floor, where archaeological activity is associated with daily activities around a house.

The footprint has since been determined to have belonged to a young child aged between 8 and 12 years who once resided in the vicinity of the elliptical-shaped house pit at the excavation site. The unusual finding came about since a footprint is far less common in excavations than other remains, such as artifacts, bones, and tools. While many archaeological discoveries tend to give an indication of what ancient people did, the imprint was proof of their existence.

The footprint was uncovered by the student during excavation


The footprint was revealed in 2017 when Steve Schoenhair, who was enrolled as a student at the University of Alaska Anchorage, carried out field work at Swan Point. Swan Point is considered to be one of the major archaeological site locations in Alaska because of its rich history with human activity spanning many years ago. Scientists had found house pits, stone tools, food debris, and storage pits on the site before.

What was unique about the print was the fact that it was uncovered beside an oval-shaped house pit within a protected habitation layer. This particular detail showed that the print was left inside a dwelling, not outside on some path.

Archaeologist Ben Potter from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, during the discussion of the findings as reported by the university, claimed that this is the type of find that brings ancient peoples into the present, making them more tangible. University of Alaska Anchorage later announced the print to be the oldest human footprint ever found in sub-Arctic North America.

Scientists analyzed the print using digital scanning

The scientists said that at first the footprint was quite hard to distinguish since the imprint on the soil was rather faint. Therefore, special attention was paid to its proper preservation and analysis. As reported by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the footprint was made in a plaster cast and then scanned digitally to examine the heel, arch, and ball.

This allowed the scientists to determine that it was really a human footprint and not an impression caused by some other circumstances. Archaeologists have found out that digital imaging has become more widely used since delicate traces could disappear rather soon after they were unearthed.

Matthew Bennett, a researcher of Bournemouth University who specializes in prehistoric trackways, said in interviews discussing prehistoric footprints that footprints are delicate archaeological records that do not last very long. However, high-resolution imaging helps researchers capture details before they vanish into oblivion. Scanning also helped calculate the age and size of the person whose footsteps they found.

Why researchers think the footprint was left by a child

The researchers concluded that the footprint must have been created by a child due to its size, depth, and pressure points. According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, its measurements indicated a young individual who was about 8 to 11 years old. The estimate was then adjusted to between 9 and 12 years based on comparative analysis.

This information is crucial since determining the age of a prehistoric footprint can be complicated. This is due to the soil's water content, weight distribution, and erosion. To make this determination, researchers used modeling techniques to compare footprints with modern developmental research data. By doing so, this finding was no longer just an archaeological artifact but a physical representation of childhood in prehistoric times.

Why just one footprint could mean so much

Footprints are essential in archaeology because they record activities, not artifacts. An object might demonstrate technological advancement, but footprints demonstrate movement, size, and behavior. In this particular instance, the print was located in an area that served as the living space near the premises of an ancient dwelling place.

This example highlights the significance of minor findings that can greatly alter the understanding of an archeological location. While a huge prehistoric town may sound too abstract and distant to the researchers, a footprint of a child adds a personal touch to it. This discovery helps to realize that the researchers were dealing with real families and real children.

A minor trace with a major meaning

As of today, the footprint at Swan Point is considered one of the most touching finds ever made by archeologists in Alaska due to its personal nature. Over 1,800 years ago, a little child left his footprints next to the wall of a house, and this impression remained preserved long enough for researchers to discover them.

What matters is that unlike any other artifact, this small find does not relate to treasure or monument. However, it allows the researchers to get a glimpse of ordinary daily life of prehistoric people.