Archaeologists Uncover Trove of Ancient Ivory Tools in Alaska

Discovery offers new insights into early human migration across North America

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Archaeologists have announced the discovery of an extraordinary trove of stone and mammoth ivory tools deep within a frozen layer of Alaskan soil. The find includes the oldest ivory rod composite tools ever found in North America and provides a richer understanding of the story of human population dispersion across the continent.

Why it matters

The Holzman site in central Alaska's Tanana Valley has been a source of archaeological and geological intrigue for over three decades, with researchers regularly studying the frozen soil there. This latest discovery of tools dating back 14,000 years makes the site one of the earliest known locations of human habitation in the Americas, offering new insights into the migration patterns and technological capabilities of some of the continent's earliest inhabitants.

The details

The extraordinary trove of stone and mammoth ivory tools was found deep within a frozen layer of Alaskan soil at the Holzman site. The tools include the oldest ivory rod composite tools ever discovered in North America, providing a richer understanding of the technological advancements and population dispersal of early humans across the continent.

  • The tools found at the Holzman site date back approximately 14,000 years.

The players

Holzman site

An archaeological site located in the middle of central Alaska's Tanana Valley that has provided over three decades of archaeological and geological intrigue.

Adelphi University

The university that researchers from are part of the team that made the discovery at the Holzman site.

University of Alaska Fairbanks

The university that researchers from are part of the team that made the discovery at the Holzman site.

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The takeaway

This extraordinary discovery of ancient ivory tools in the frozen Alaskan soil provides valuable new insights into the migration patterns and technological capabilities of some of the earliest human inhabitants of North America, furthering our understanding of the peopling of the continent.