ArcTec’s transdisciplinary research team integrates sophisticated laser imaging technologies and geophysical instrumentation with archaeological fieldwork to understand how human populations living in the Arctic for more than 4000 years adapted their lifeways to flourish in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.

Key goals to the research projects conducted by ArcTec team members include:

• Identifying and characterizing ancient toolstone quarries exploited by early Arctic populations
• Using geochemical data derived from stone tool remains located in archaeological sites and identified source locations to reconstruct ancient seasonal mobility patterns and technological organization
• Documenting and preserving heritage resources, including archaeological sites and artifacts, using terrestrial LiDAR scanning, 3D laser scanning, and 3D digital microscopy
• Assessing the impact of climate change on Arctic archaeological sites and other northern heritage resources.