Climate fluctuations and landscape evolution, with their associated impacts on northern coastal ecosystems, likely influenced human populations of Nunatsiavut who have inhabited the region for nearly 7000 years. As part of an interdisciplinary research initiative within the Nain Archipelago on the subarctic coast of Labrador, this project sought to reconstruct the postglacial palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental variability of Dog Island and document its impacts on the evolution of lakes located in the vicinity of significant archaeological sites. To address these questions, we analysed physical, geochemical, and biological indicators preserved in sediment cores of two lakes. Results from Oakes Bay West Lake revealed gradual acidification since ca. 4900 cal. yr BP, coherent with terrestrial vegetation development and/or neoglacial cooling, interrupted by periods of milder climatic conditions (ca. 4900–3640 cal. yr BP and ca. 1520 cal. yr BP—present) that favoured large sediment inputs. Evilik Lake revealed the classic sequence of isolation of the basin in three major phases in response to glacio-isostatic rebound. These complementary results allowed for the development of a local palaeoenvironmental framework that contributes to a better understanding of how landscape evolution and climate have influenced human societies through site availability and proximity to marine resources, and how, in turn, they impacted their immediate environment through activities, such as wood harvesting and its associated effects on nutrients and lake sediment inputs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.