Old Bering Sea culture

The Old Bering Sea culture was an Eskimo culture that flourished in northern Alaska and northeastern Siberia from approximately 100 to 500 CE. This culture is particularly known for its intricate fossil-ivory implements.1

The Arctic region, characterized by its tundra and coastal environments, has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for millennia. These cultures, including the Inuit and Yupik peoples, developed subsistence strategies based on hunting, fishing, and herding, adapting to the distinct seasonality of the Arctic. The Bering Strait region, where the Old Bering Sea culture was situated, has historically served as a land bridge between Asia and North America, facilitating migration and cultural exchange.23

While the Old Bering Sea culture's art primarily focused on animal representations, other Arctic cultures, like the Okvik culture, also produced art, often depicting human figures and related to hunting and shamanism.4