Point Hope is an Iñupiat community on the Tikigaq spit, a point of land on the North Slope that projects west into the Chukchi Sea. The spit holds the Ipiutak archaeological site, one of the largest precontact village sites in Arctic Alaska and a National Historic Landmark.[1]
| Location | Tikigaq spit, Chukchi Sea |
|---|---|
| Ipiutak house ruins | More than 500 |
| Ipiutak culture | Before AD 600; peak AD 650–870 |
| National Historic Landmark | 20 January 1961 |
| Landowner of the site | Tikigaq Corporation |
| Public access to site | Not open to the public |
The Ipiutak site
The site is the type site for the Ipiutak culture, which flourished in northwestern Alaska at the start of the common era and predates AD 600. Its population peaked between about AD 650 and AD 870 and then declined. More than 500 house ruins lie along the beach ridges, surrounded by large whale and walrus bones, many still on site. Artifacts show daily life more than 1,800 years ago, and the Ipiutak are known for elaborate carvings in ivory, wood, bone and stone.[1]
Archaeological district
The landmark belongs to a larger archaeological district that includes Qimiarzuk, Jabbertown and the Tikigaq historic cemetery. It was named a National Historic Landmark on 20 January 1961. The site is managed by the Tikigaq Corporation and is not open to the public.[1]
FAQs
What is the Ipiutak site? A precontact village site at Point Hope and the type site of the Ipiutak culture.
Can visitors enter it? No, it is managed by the Tikigaq Corporation and closed to the public.
When was it designated a landmark? 20 January 1961.
Sources
Key facts
- 500+ house ruins
- Landmark 1961
Quick checkWhat culture is the Ipiutak site named for?Show answer
The Ipiutak culture
Sources
- National Park Service. Ipiutak Site. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-13)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 13, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue