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Modeling Paleoshorelines and Locating Early Holocene Coastal Sites in Haida Gwaii

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Daryl W. Fedje  and
Tina Christensen
Daryl W. Fedje
Affiliation:
Parks Canada, 250-1675 Douglas St., Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2G5, Canada
Tina Christensen
Affiliation:
Millennia Research, 204-10114 McDonald Park Rd, North Saanich, British Columbia V8L 5X8, Canada
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Abstract

The integration of archaeology and paleoecology has allowed a fuller understanding of the history of southern Haida Gwaii and provided insights into the regional history of coastal occupation in northwestern North America. Of particular consequence is the history of sea-level fluctuations during the late-glacial and early Holocene. The modern shore holds only part of the history of coastal occupation. Much is flooded or hidden in the rainforest. In southern Haida Gwaii, shorelines dating from 13,000 to 9,500 B.P. are deeply drowned while those dating from 9,200 to 3,000 B.P. are stranded in the rainforest up to 15 meters above modern levels. Shorelines have been approximately coincident with the current position for only the last two to three millennia and for a century or two centered around 9,400 B.P. Modeling these paleoshorelines has led to discovery and investigation of a number of early Holocene archaeological sites.

Résumé

Résumé

La integracíon de la arqueología y paleoecología ha permetido un entendimiento más completo de la historia de Haida Gwaii meridional y de la historia regional de la ocupación costera del noroeste de Norte América. De particular importancia es la historia de las fluctuaciones del nivel del mar durante los periodos de glaciación tardia y Holoceno temprano. La costa moderna solamente incluye una parte de la historia de la ocupación costera. Mucha evidencia está sumergida o escondida en el bosque. En Haida Gwaii meridional, paleo-costas que datan de 13.500 a 9.500 a.p. están sumergidas profundamente mientras que aquéllas que datan de 9.500 a 3.000 a.p. se encuentran en el bosque, alcanzando hasta 15 metros sobre el nivel moderno. Los perfiles costeros nan coincidido aproximadamente con la posicíon actual solamente en los últimos dos o tres mileniosypor un sigh o dos alrededor de 9.400 a.p. El desarrollo de modelos para estas palecostas ha conducido al descubrmiento e investigación de varios sitios arqueológicos del Holoceno temprano.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 64 , Issue 4 , October 1999 , pp. 635 - 652
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1999

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