scholarly journals AMS 14C Dating of Pollen Concentrate from Late Pleistocene ICE Wedges From the Bison and Seyaha Sites in Siberia

Radiocarbon ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alla Vasil'chuk ◽  
Jong-Chan Kim ◽  
Yurij Vasil'chuk

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates of pollen concentrate were obtained from multistage syngenetic ice wedges of cross-sections from the Late Pleistocene Bison site, located along the Lower Kolyma River (68°34'N, 158°34'E), from ∼43,600 to ∼26,200 BP, and 3 AMS 14C dates of pollen concentrate in ice wedges from the Seyaha site cross-section, located on the east coast of the Yamal Peninsula (70°10'N, 72°34'E), from ∼22,400 to ∼25,200 BP. Pollen concentrate samples were prepared using a special pretreatment procedure. Pollen and spores from ice-wedge ice signalize a regional pollen rain. Therefore, 14C-dated extracts of pollen and spores from ice-wedge ice enable an adequate reconstruction and chronology of landscape dynamics on a regional scale. The pollen and spores were well preserved despite numerous redepositions in the penecontemporaneous structure in which they were found. Thus, a comparison with dates on other fractions from the same sample is necessary. The youngest date is the most reliable among the intersample AMS 14C dates from the ice and permafrost sediments.

Radiocarbon ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 883-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yurij K. Vasil'Chuk ◽  
Alla C. Vasil'Chuk

We discuss the possibility of dating ice wedges by the radiocarbon method. We show as an example the Seyaha, Kular and Zelyony Mys ice wedge complexes, and investigated various organic materials from permafrost sediments. We show that the reliability of dating 18O variations from ice wedges can be evaluated by comparison of different organic materials from host sediments in the ice wedge cross sections.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz Schirrmeister ◽  
Georg Schwamborn ◽  
Pier Paul Overduin ◽  
Jens Strauss ◽  
Margret C. Fuchs ◽  
...  

Abstract. The composition of permafrost deposits holds information on the paleo-environment during and following deposition. Sampling natural exposures and drilling are two methods used to access permafrost archives. In this study, we combine both approaches at the western coast of the Buor Khaya Peninsula in the south-central Laptev Sea (Siberia) to study late Pleistocene permafrost; namely the Yedoma Ice Complex (IC), which is prominent across much of eastern Siberia. Two Yedoma IC exposures and one drill core were studied for cryolithological (i.e. ice and sediment features), geochemical, and geochronological parameters. Borehole temperatures were measured for three years to capture the current thermal state of permafrost. The studied sequences were composed of ice-oversaturated silts and fine-grained sands with considerable amounts of organic matter (0.2 to 24 wt %). Syngenetic ice wedges intersect the frozen deposits. The deposition of the Yedoma IC, as revealed by radiocarbon dates of sedimentary organic matter, took place between 54.1 and 30.1 kyr BP. Continued Yedoma IC deposition until about 14.7 kyr BP is shown by dates from organic matter preserved in ice-wedge ice. For the lowermost and oldest Yedoma IC part, infrared-stimulated luminescence dates on feldspar show deposition ages between 51.1 ± 4.9 and 44.2 ± 3.6 kyr BP. End-member modelling was applied to grain-size-distribution data to unmix sedimentation processes during Yedoma IC formation. Three to five statistical end-members were detected within Yedoma IC deposits of different ages, which we interpret as signals of alluvial, proluvial, and aeolian transport and redeposition as well as in-situ frost weathering in a polygonal tundra landscape. The study captures the internal variation of Yedoma IC characteristics and puts its local stratigraphy into regional scale. The cryolithological inventory of the Yedoma IC preserved on the Buor Khaya Peninsula is closely related to the results of other IC studies, for example, to the west on the Bykovsky Peninsula, where formation time (mainly during the late Pleistocene MIS 3 interstadial) and conditions were similar. Local freezing conditions on Buor Khaya, however, differed, and created solute-enriched (salty) and isotopically-light porewater pointing to deep active-layer and thaw-bulb freezing after deposition. Due to intense coastal erosion, the biogeochemical signature of the studied Yedoma IC represents the terrestrial end-member for, and is closely related to organic matter currently being deposited in the marine realm of the Laptev Sea shelf.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2B) ◽  
pp. 527-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yurij K Vasil'chuk ◽  
Högne Jungner ◽  
Alla C Vasil'chuk

We present new radiocarbon dates from a number of Holocene peat deposits along a north-south transect across the Yamal Peninsula. The samples were collected from frozen peat deposits with large ice wedges in: the northern tundra near Seyaha Settlement, in the Central Yamal Peninsula, the southern tundra in Shchuch'ya River valley at the Edem'yaha mouth, the southern part of the Yamal Peninsula, and the southern forest tundra near Labytnangi Town. 14C dates of wood remains from the tundra in the Yamal Peninsula could be used to reconstruct a northern limit of forest during the Holocene Optimum. The wood layers at the bottom of the peat give evidence for immigration of trees further north beyond the present boundary. The first forest appearance in the Seyaha River valley area is dated about 9 ka BP according to the oldest peat date in the Seyaha cross section. This suggests that summer temperatures were higher than at present. Very fast accumulation of peat (around 5 m/ka: about 9–8 ka BP at Seyaha and about 7–6 ka BP at Shchuch'ya) also supports this observation.In contrast, oxygen isotope composition of Holocene syngenetic ice wedges from the area (δ18O= −19.1 to −20.3‰ in the Seyaha cross-section and −17.3 to −20.3‰ in the Shchuch'ya River) show that winter temperatures were significantly lower than presently, i.e. the climate during the Holocene Optimum was slightly more continental. The frozen peat near Labytnangi has thawed during the last 20 years, indicating global warming.


Radiocarbon ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 775-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. B. Bazarova ◽  
N. G. Razjigaeva ◽  
T. A. Grebennikova ◽  
L. A. Ganzey ◽  
L. M. Mokhova ◽  
...  

Kunashir Island is a very important site for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Until recently, very little information on Quaternary deposits was available. We studied the environmental evolution of this oceanic island under the influence of geomorphological processes, volcanism and strong marine currents. This paper presents new data that allow a detailed reconstruction of the environmental development of Kunashir Island during the Late Pleistocene–Holocene, based on ca. 80 radiocarbon dates and diatom, pollen and sedimentological data. The vegetation development reflects climate changes and warm/cold current migrations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-92
Author(s):  
Yu. K. Vasil’chuk ◽  
J. Yu. Vasil’chuk

Microinclusions of organic matter were dated using acceleration mass spectrometry in seven samples from the upper part of the thick Pleistocene syngenetic ice wedges uncovered in the outcrop of the Batagay yedoma located in northern Yakutia along the upper Yana River (67,58 N, 134,77 E). The dated fragment of ice wedge was formed within 22 760-20 010 radiocarbon years BP (or 27 100-33 800 cal BP). Using detailed isotope data, the January average air temperature in the Late Pleistocene (25-30 cal kyr BP) was calculated for the Batagay section along with a series of reference sections in northwestern Yakutia. It was shown that the minimum January average air temperature (-51 C) was characteristic at that time for the area of the Batagaika crater, with values 4-5 higher in areas 500-600 km further north. This effect was caused by the occurrence of the Yakutian anticyclone in winter during the Late Pleistocene, which was just as pronounced as that at the present time.


Radiocarbon ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Vogel ◽  
Joel Kronfeld

Twenty paired 14C and U/Th dates covering most of the past 50,000 yr have been obtained on a stalagmite from the Cango Caves in South Africa as well as some additional age-pairs on two stalagmites from Tasmania that partially fill a gap between 7 ka and 17 ka ago. After allowance is made for the initial apparent 14C ages, the age-pairs between 7 ka and 20 ka show satisfactory agreement with the coral data of Bard et al. (1990, 1993). The results for the Cango stalagmite between 25 ka and 50 ka show the 14C dates to be substantially younger than the U/Th dates except at 49 ka and 29 ka, where near correspondence occurs. The discrepancies may be explained by variations in 14C production caused by changes in the magnetic dipole field of the Earth. A tentative calibration curve for this period is offered.


2019 ◽  
Vol 487 (1) ◽  
pp. 823-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu. K. Vasil’chuk ◽  
N. A. Budantseva ◽  
A. C. Vasil’chuk

Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 901-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Oliva ◽  
G. Vieira ◽  
P. Pina ◽  
P. Pereira ◽  
M. Neves ◽  
...  

Abstract. Ice wedges are widespread periglacial features in the landscape of Adventdalen, Svalbard. The networks of ice wedges have created areas with well-developed polygonal terrains in the lowest fluvial terraces in this valley. We have examined the sedimentological characteristics of the northern and southern banks of the Advent river for palaeoenvironmental purposes. The base of two sedimentary sections reported radiocarbon dates of 3.3 and 3.9 ka BP, respectively. The northern site is constituted by three very different lithostratigraphical units, which suggests that their formation should be related to different environmental and climate conditions. By contrast, the southern section shows a rather homogeneous composition, with no significant variations in grain size and organic matter content. In both cases the uppermost sediments are constituted by a thick aeolian deposit. According to our data, warmer climate conditions may have prevailed during the mid Holocene until 3.3 ka BP with widespread peat formation in the valley bottom. Subsequently, a period with alternating soil formation and aeolian sedimentation took place from 3 to 2.5 ka BP, probably due to increasing climatic severity. During the last millennium a long-term cooling trend has favoured aeolian deposition in the lowest part of Adventdalen.


2020 ◽  
Vol 324 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.E. Omelko ◽  
Y.V. Kuzmin ◽  
M.P. Tiunov ◽  
L.L. Voyta ◽  
G.S. Burr

Late Pleistocene-Holocene faunal complexes of small mammals (Lipotyphla, Rodentia, and Lagomorpha) from the Russian Far East are described for the first time. We used material from the Medvezhyi Klyk Cave, located in Southern Sikhote-Alin. The numerous fossil findings from the cave display a remarkable taxonomic diversity and high degree of preservation. AMS 14C dating used for determination of deposits age. The Holocene sediments were divided into three periods: Early, Middle, and Late. The Pleistocene deposits age was not exactly determined, but under approximately estimation it can reach 50–60 ka. Thirty-nine species were found, including one member of the extinct genus of arvicolins. There are six faunal complexes identified from the studied Late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. In general, the faunal complexes characterized by the dominance of Craseomys rufocanus within rodents, Sorex caecutiens within lipotyphlans; and relatively stability composition of most number of the dominant, codominant and subdominant species. Accordingly, the faunal complexes were described by means of two determining criteria only: relative number of species; and presence or absence of certain species. The dominant species are eurytopic and so they cannot use for reconstruction of the paleoenvironment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom D. Dillehay ◽  
Carlos Ocampo ◽  
Jose Saavedra ◽  
Mario Pino ◽  
Linda Scott-Cummings ◽  
...  

AbstractThis paper presents new excavation data on the Chinchihuapi I (CH-I) locality within the Monte Verde site complex, located along Chinchihuapi Creek in the cool, temperate Valdivian rain forest of south-central Chile. The 2017 and 2018 archaeological excavations carried out in this open-air locality reveal further that CH-I is an intermittently occupied site dating from the Early Holocene (~10,000 cal yr BP) to the late Pleistocene (at least ~14,500 cal yr BP) and probably earlier. A new series of radiocarbon dates refines the chronology of human use of the site during this period. In this paper, we describe the archaeological and stratigraphic contexts of the recent excavations and analyze the recovered artifact assemblages. A fragmented Monte Verde II point type on an exotic quartz newly recovered from excavations at CH-I indicates that this biface design existed in at least two areas of the wider site complex ~14,500 cal yr BP. In addition, associated with the early Holocene component at CH-I are later Paijan-like points recovered with lithic tools and debris and other materials. We discuss the geographic distribution of diagnostic artifacts from the site and their probable relationship to other early sites in South America.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document