Geoarchaeology of the Pleistocene Occupation of Western Canada - Chlachula - 1997

Recognition of Palaeo-American sites in Pleistocene geological settings is rather problematic for most American archaeologists as no consensus has been reached yet about the timing of the initial Palaeo-American migration from eastern Asia, the level of technology and the associated typological variety of stone tools that the early inhabitants of the continent might have brought with them. One of the principal problems concerns the recognition of artifactually flaked lithic and associated cultural remains deeply buried under or within glacial and glacigenic deposits in Eastern Beringia and adjacent areas. This fact largely reflects the lack of adequate geomorphological, sedimentological anti rock-mechanical studies, combining field observations and analytical laboratory expertise (including cultural and natural stone flaking) in the current archaeological studies. Introduction of geoarchaeological research strategies incorporating glacial geology and palaeolithic archaeology, and a more active role of other natural sciences may significantly contribute to elucidation of the earliest New World prehistory, particularly in the formerly glaciated areas of North America. Pioneering investigations in western Alberta at palaeolithic sites sealed by thick (10+m) surficial deposits formed under or close to the continental ice-sheet or the Cordilleran valley glaciers during the last glacial stage have provided the first definite evidence that early people occupied foothills and the plains east of the Canadian Rocky Mountains prior to the last glacial maximum.

Keywords

Western Canada - Pleistocene glaciations - Quaternary geology - Glacigenic deposits - Palaeolithic archaeology - Palaeo-American occupation - Lithic industry

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