The proposed project is an international partnership of interdisciplinary archaeology, paleobiology and paleoenvironment research in the Central Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The proposed goals of the research are to understand coupled natural and human systems during the Holocene by exploring questions of "A) how human cultures and behavior have been shaped by Holocene climatic, biotic and geologic change; and B) how human cultures have used and shaped biotic environments." The PIs propose that in order to understand the broad scope changes occurring in the contemporary Aleutian archipelago, e.g., global warming, decline in sea mammal and fish populations, and resultant economic impacts, it is necessary to have comprehensive research on long-term human-environment interactions that the proposed research on the Holocene can provide. In addition, the PIs are proposing an innovative hands-on science education project with Adak students, "Adak Discovery."
