Magnetic Island (Alaska)

Magnetic Island is a small island on the north side of Tuxedni Bay, an inlet on the lower west side of Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska. The island is surrounded by mudflats that are under water during high tides. The island got its name from the presence of magnetism (believed due to magnetite) identified during a geological survey in 1951. Its shape and geology are heavily influenced by Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna, two active volcanoes located less than 20 miles (32 km) away.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island
Geography
Location	Tuxedni Bay, Cook Inlet
Coordinates	60°14′36″N 152°50′51″W
Highest elevation	152 m (499 ft)
Administration
United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough
Magnetic Island Site
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Address restricted[1]
NRHP reference No.	15000071[2]
Added to NRHP	March 17, 2015

The island is most notable for its archaeological significance, which includes a prehistoric human habitation site which has been dated to c. 1800-1400 BCE. The sites consists of a series of depressions, which when excavated in 2012, yielded several layers of cultural materials, included fire-cracked stones and hearths, and stone tools stylistically associated with the Arctic Small Tool tradition. The site was presumed to be abandoned due to volcanic activity.[3]

The archaeological site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.[2]

See also

• List of islands of Alaska
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska

References

1. Federal and state laws and practices restrict general public access to information regarding the specific location of this resource. In some cases, this is to protect archeological sites from vandalism, while in other cases it is restricted at the request of the owner. See: Knoerl, John; Miller, Diane; Shrimpton, Rebecca H. (1990), Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric Resources, National Register Bulletin, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, OCLC 20706997.
2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
3. Rogers, Jason; et al. (2013). "The Arctic Small Tool Tradition on Cook Inlet: The Magnetic Island Site, Tuxnedi Bay, Alaska". Alaska Journal of Anthropology (Volume 11): 119–138.