How the Crew of a 1813 Shipwreck Survived in the Harsh, Alaska Winter

Archaeologists have officially pieced together how a crew survived a shipwreck in Alaska in 1813. Researchers have taken a closer look at the wreck of a 19^th century Russian-American sailing company's ship, Neva, and have found how the crew may have survived the harsh subarctic winter.

"The items left behind by survivors provide a unique snapshot-in-time for January 1813, and might help us to understand the adaptations that allowed them to await rescue in a frigid, unfamiliar environment for almost a month," said Dave McMahan, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The wreck of the frigate Neva, which occurred near the city of Sitka, has been surrounded by stories and legends for two centuries. Although the survivors were eventually rescued and taken to Sitka, few account of their experience were collected or published, and no official records relating to the wreck and its aftermath have been discovered.

Now, the researchers are looking to verity the wreck locations and confirm the site of a survivor camp.

The archaeological team actually believes that articles they found over the past two years near the historical site represent the everyday tools used by 26 shipwrecked members of Neva's crew. These crewmembers survived for almost a month in the winter of 1813 by foraging and gathering materials washed ashore from the wreck.

In all, the researchers found artifacts such as gun flints, musket balls, pieces of modified sheet copper, iron and copper spikes, a Russian axe, and a fishhook fashioned from copper. The researchers believe that the gun flints were used to create fire, and that the crewmembers were active in ensuring their own survival.

"Collectively, the artifacts reflect improvisation in a survival situation, and do not include ceramics, glass and other materials that would be associated with a settlement," said McMahan.

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