Interstadial Proboscidean from South-Central Alaska: Implications for Biogeography, Geology, and Archeology

Thorson, Robert M.; Dixon, E. James; Smith, George S.; Batten, Alan R.

doi:10.1016/0033-5894(81)90019-3

Cited by 19 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Much of the study area was heavily glaciated during the Late Wisconsinan (∼25,000-14,000 cal yr BP), with ice originating from the Alaska Range as well as the Talkeetna Mountains to the south and northwest (Woodward-Clyde Consultants, 1982;Reger et al, 1990) and the region's topography is heavily influenced by past glaciations and associated outwash (Thorson et al, 1981;Dixon et al, 1985;Reger et al, 1990). Moraines, eskers, kames, and kettle lakes lie adjacent to steep-walled scarps and canyons created by post-glacial down-cutting (Kachadoorian, 1974;Dixon et al, 1985;Reger et al, 1990) and large proglacial lakes once covered vast portions of the study area (Reger et al, 1990).…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-Glacial Paleoecology of the Middle Susitna Valley, Alaska: Environmental Context for Human Dispersal

et al. 2019

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We present here the results of multi-proxy analyses (sediment geochemistry, diatoms, and pollen) from sediment cores collected at four lakes in the middle Susitna Valley, Alaska. These lakes form a transect from the tundra to the boreal forest. The retrieved cores span from ∼12,000 cal yr BP to the present, with age control provided by radiometric dates and tephra deposits, some of which are newly identified. Results indicate that deglaciation occurred before 12,000 cal yr BP and that by that time, the lakes were deep, productive, and surrounded by shrub tundra. The lake with the highest sampling resolution indicates a brief climatic reversal ∼11,500 cal yr BP with decreased diatom-inferred lake level and lowered lake productivity, and reduced shrub presence. During the early to middle Holocene, all of the sedimentary records provide evidence of climatic amelioration with tree expansion and productive lakes. A middle to late Holocene climatic deterioration with reduced trees and a shallower, less productive lake is also indicated. In addition, the prominent Watana tephra at ∼4,000 cal yr BP likely reduced lake productivity and affected the vegetation. Even though the region was relatively productive soon after deglaciation, people did not occupy the region until ∼11,000 cal yr BP, about 1000 years later, and then only sparsely. By the middle and late Holocene, the region was more densely populated and this shift in human occupancy presumably reflects changes in resource abundance, especially caribou. Whether the Watana ashfall influenced caribou abundance and thus people, is still under investigation, but given the tephra's effect on vegetation and lake productivity, it seems likely.

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Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-Glacial Paleoecology of the Middle Susitna Valley, Alaska: Environmental Context for Human Dispersal

et al. 2019

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“…The upper Susitna River basin lies on the southern flank of the central Alaska Range within the upland Alaska Range Ecoregion (Nowacki, Spencer, Fleming, Brock, & Jorgenson, ; Figure ). During the Last Glacial Maximum glaciers flowed south from the Alaska Range through the Susitna basin as far as the Hatchet Lake moraine—and possibly as far south as the confluence of the Susitna and Tyone rivers—completely covering the current study area (Reger & Bundtzen, ; Smith, ; Thorson, Dixon, Smith, & Batten, ; Woodward‐Clyde Consultants, ). Beryllium‐10 surface exposure dating on glacial erratics in the upper Susitna basin indicate that the final significant phase of glaciation receded towards the present‐day Nenana and West Fork glaciers 13–14 ka during the Bølling‐Allerød interstadial (Dortch et al, ).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following termination of full-glacial conditions, glacial ice receded rapidly from the study area, likely leaving hummocky ice disintegration deposits in topographically low areas (Woodward-Clyde Consultants, 1982 (Barclay, Wiles, & Calkin, 2009;Briner & Kaufman, 2008;Coulter et al, 1965;Smith, 1981).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1: Coulter et al's (1965) Younger Dryas advance; 2: West Fork Susitna 1 (HEA-506); 3: Dortch et al's (2010) sample location; 4: Nutella Lake, Rohr's (2001) sample location; 5: Butte Lake (HEA-189); 6: Susitna Dune sites (HEA-234, HEA-235, HEA-454, HEA-507, HEA-508, HEA-509, HEA-510, HEA-511); 7: Susitna River 2 (HEA-502); 8: Susitna River 3 (HEA-455); 9: Windy Creek 1 (HEA-505); 10: Reger and Bundtzen's (1990) sample location; 11: Alpine Creek 8 (HEA-460); 12: Ratekin (HEA-187) and HEA-320; 13: Snodgrass Lake 1 (HEA-500); 14: Butte Creek 1 (HEA-499); 15: Swampbuggy Lake, Rohr's (2001) (Kachadoorian, Hopkins, & Nichols, 1954;Wahrhaftig, 1965). Unconsolidated Quaternary glacial drift deposits cover ground surfaces below 1,000 masl (Smith, 1981;Smith, Albanese, & Kline, 1988). Vegetation in the study area consists primarily of Betula shrub tundra, with Picea sp.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regional stratigraphy and human occupation of the upper Susitna River basin, central Alaska Range

Blong

2018

Geoarchaeology

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This study presents geomorphological, paleoenvironmental, and archaeological data from the upland upper Susitna River basin in the central Alaska Range. The goal of this study is to establish the landscape history and record of human use of the study area and test regional land‐use models. The results indicate that the upper Susitna was first occupied in the early Holocene at least 2,000 years after the end of full‐glacial conditions and 1,000 years after evidence of landscape recovery. Early Holocene land‐use consisted of short‐term task‐specific camps occupied by highly mobile groups on logistical forays. Upland land use intensified in the middle and late Holocene after modern vegetation patterns were established; during this time hunter‐gatherers occupied both residential and task‐specific camps in the study area in a logistical land‐use system. These results support a shift in land use in the early Holocene to include upland landscapes and intensification of upland landscape use in the late–middle Holocene. A shift in residential base camp location in the late Holocene may be tied to changing subsistence activities. There is evidence for a hiatus in human occupation following Holocene tephra fall, but it is unclear whether this was related to tephra deposition or broader climate instability.

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“…al., 1972 Spikep, et. al., 1977 Stuivep, 1969Suess, 1954Thorson and Hamilton, 1977Thorson, et. al., 1981 Thopson, et.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bibliography of published radiocarbon dates for Alaska

Galloway¹

1984

Open-File Report

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Interstadial Proboscidean from South-Central Alaska: Implications for Biogeography, Geology, and Archeology

Cited by 19 publications

References 12 publications

Late-Glacial Paleoecology of the Middle Susitna Valley, Alaska: Environmental Context for Human Dispersal

Late-Glacial Paleoecology of the Middle Susitna Valley, Alaska: Environmental Context for Human Dispersal

Regional stratigraphy and human occupation of the upper Susitna River basin, central Alaska Range

Bibliography of published radiocarbon dates for Alaska

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