On the remote coast of the Chukchi Peninsula, a research team has identified a series of pavements constructed from the mandibles of bowhead whales. These structures are precisely aligned with the sunrise on the spring equinox, marking the start of the traditional whaling season and its associated spiritual festivals.
Carbon dating places the pavements at approximately 1,000 years old, linking them to the ancestors of the modern Chukchi and Yupik peoples. The discovery suggests that complex astronomical observations were integrated into maritime festivals, where the successful hunt was celebrated through elaborate dances performed atop these sacred whalebone platforms.