CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Buss, S.
Date : 2005.
Title : Geoarchaeological investigations at the Atkinson Site, Glacial Lake Hind Basin, southwestern Manitoba, Canada.
Publication : 2005 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Denver, Colorado, April 5-9, 2005.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
This paper presents preliminary results of geoarchaeological investigations of the Atkinson site. The multi-component archaeological site is located along the banks of the Souris River where it flows through the Lauder Sand Hills within the glacial Lake Hind Basin (GLHB). A cut bank exposure (~850 meters long) reveals parabolic dune sands to the west, vertically accumulating and interfingering with, lateral accretion facies fluvial deposits to the east. Both units are overlain by two generations of parabolic dunes. Based on analysis of 359 samples recovered from eight Geoprobe cores these units are present across the site and are underlain by glacial deposits. Radiocarbon analysis of archaeological charcoal within vertical accretion deposits indicates a mid-Holocene age (greater than 6100 cal BP) for initial fluvial deposition and migration of parabolic dunes to the site. Analysis of cultural remains recovered from the younger dune deposits indicate dune migration across the site by 2500 to 2000 cal BP and between 1000 to 500 cal BP. Analysis of buried soils suggests periods of dune activity were short and separated by longer periods of stability and soil development. Mummy Cave (~6100 cal BP) to Metis (early historic) cultural remains recovered from the site are consistently found in close proximity to the contact between eolian and fluvial deposits. The site is characterized by a mosaic of parabolic dunes, sand sheets, floodplain landforms, and vegetation communities associated with each over the past 6100 years. This landscape which drew humans to the site is similar to the conditions present today.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology