When the sea become a monster? The social impact of the Storegga tsunami, 8200 BP, on the Mesolithic of northern Europe

<p>Around 8200 years ago, the Storegga tsunami, caused by a massive submarine landslide off the coast of Central Norway, struck the coasts of west Norway, Scotland and Doggerland. This event is well known from wide ranging geological and palaeobotanical work undertaken over the last 30 years. What has been less explored, however, is the potential social impact that this natural freak event had on the Mesolithic hunter-gatherer societies living on the coasts and shores of the North Sea. What happened in the tsunami’s aftermath? It has been widely assumed to have been a disaster – but was it? What constituted a disaster in the Mesolithic? In the Mesolithic, people were hunter-gatherer-fishers, they lived by, off, and with the sea. Settlement sites in West Norway were concentrated along the outer coast. People lived on the shores of islands and headlands, or along resource rich tidal currents. Eastern Scottish Mesolithic sites are also found on contemporary coasts, while the coasts of central Doggerland have long since become submerged. What happened to groups in these landscapes on the day the sea became a monster and in the years that followed? In this paper, we will outline a newly started project that will investigate the social impact of the tsunami in areas of the North Sea that have distinctive Mesolithic histories. These coastal inhabitants had, for millennia, developed their own traditions to engage with and learn how to exploit and keep safe from the sea. What can we learn about Mesolithic societies by investigating how communities handled the forces of a tsunami? Responses identified in the archaeological material and environmental archives can potentially inform us of social structures, institutions or ways of living that made the existing societies resilient or vulnerable.</p>

Characterization of the Outer Coast Tuff Formation- A way to unravelling the magmatic processes preceding and triggering Deception Island’s caldera - forming eruption (Antarctica)

<p>Deception Island (South Shetland Islands), discovered in 1820, is one of the most active volcanoes in Antarctica with more than 20 eruptions (including the historic eruptions of 1967, 1969 and 1970) and three documented volcanic unrest events (1992, 1999 and 2014-15) over the past two centuries. Deception Island currently hosts two scientific bases, which operate every year during the Austral summer, and is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Antarctica. The island is a composite volcano with a centrally located caldera of 8.5 x 10 km dated at 3,980 ± 125 yr. BP. During the caldera-forming event, between 30 and 60 km<sup>3</sup> (Dense Rock Equivalent-DRE) of magma, erupted in the form of dense basaltic-andesitic pyroclastic density current deposits. During the last decades, Deception Island has been intensively investigated but some aspects regarding the magmatic processes associated with the formation of its caldera collapse are still under research and debate. For instance, characterizing the magmatic conditions and processes that triggered the huge explosive event is crucial to understand the past (and in turn the future) magmatic and volcanic evolution of the island.</p><p>This study is performing an exhaustive petrological and geochemical characterization (mineral and juvenile glass geochemistry) of the Outer Coast Tuff Formation (OCTF), the main syn-caldera depositional unit. The preliminary results confirm the existence of two different magmas coexisting, and interacting, prior to (and during) the caldera-forming event. Mineral analyses also allow shedding further light on the magmatic processes occurring in the magma system before the eruption (e.g. fractional crystallization, magma mixing). The presence of alteration minerals such as palagonite and zeolites indicate different magma-water interaction mechanisms occurred during the syn- and post-eruptive episodes in the island.</p><p>This research is part of POLARCSIC and PTIVolcan research initiatives. This research was partially funded by the MINECO grants POSVOLDEC(CTM2016-79617-P)(AEI/FEDER-UE) and VOLGASDEC (PGC2018-095693-B-I00)(AEI/FEDER, UE). This research is also supported by the PREDOCS-UB grant.</p>

Endangered predators and endangered prey: Seasonal diet of Southern Resident killer whales

Understanding diet is critical for conservation of endangered predators. Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) (Orcinus orca) are an endangered population occurring primarily along the outer coast and inland waters of Washington and British Columbia. Insufficient prey has been identified as a factor limiting their recovery, so a clear understanding of their seasonal diet is a high conservation priority. Previous studies have shown that their summer diet in inland waters consists primarily of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), despite that species’ rarity compared to some other salmonids. During other times of the year, when occurrence patterns include other portions of their range, their diet remains largely unknown. To address this data gap, we collected feces and prey remains from October to May 2004–2017 in both the Salish Sea and outer coast waters. Using visual and genetic species identification for prey remains and genetic approaches for fecal samples, we characterized the diet of the SRKWs in fall, winter, and spring. Chinook salmon were identified as an important prey item year-round, averaging ~50% of their diet in the fall, increasing to 70–80% in the mid-winter/early spring, and increasing to nearly 100% in the spring. Other salmon species and non-salmonid fishes, also made substantial dietary contributions. The relatively high species diversity in winter suggested a possible lack of Chinook salmon, probably due to seasonally lower densities, based on SRKW’s proclivity to selectively consume this species in other seasons. A wide diversity of Chinook salmon stocks were consumed, many of which are also at risk. Although outer coast Chinook samples included 14 stocks, four rivers systems accounted for over 90% of samples, predominantly the Columbia River. Increasing the abundance of Chinook salmon stocks that inhabit the whales’ winter range may be an effective conservation strategy for this population.

Monterey Shells and Trade Copper: A Glimpse into the Early Contact Period from a Nuu-Chah-Nulth Outer-Coast Lookout Site

The Nuu-chah-nulth of western Vancouver Island used lookout sites on small outer-coast islands to observe the movements of sea mammals and canoes, and later the trading ships arriving with cargoes of new goods. A trench excavated across the upper surface of one such site yielded an artifact assemblage typical of late Nuu-chah-nulth sites, along with radiocarbon dates indicating use over the few centuries prior to contact with Europeans. Three artifacts of introduced materials reveal that this location continued in use into the early decades of contact. Copper and California abalone shells (“Monterey shells”) were two of the earliest and most important trade materials during the maritime fur trade. Indigenous demand was for the raw material, which was re-worked into decorative items of traditional form. The excavation results provide a rare glimpse into this early contact period, with no admixture of later manufactured objects. Ethnohistoric and ethnographic sources provide context to interpret these discoveries.

A New Combination in Holodiscus (Rosaceae, Amygdaloideae, Spiraeeae)

Holodiscus dumosus var. cedrorum, The Cedars oceanspray, was described in 2011 in recognition of the distinct morphology of populations occurring on serpentine soils in The Cedars area in the Outer Coast Ranges of Sonoma County, California. Morphological and genetic data suggest that this taxon should instead be treated as a variety of Holodiscus discolor, here interpreted broadly as a widespread and highly variable species with several taxonomic varieties that intergrade. The new combination Holodiscus discolor var. cedrorum is made and a key to the varieties that occur in California is provided.

Second Stage of Reconnaissances in California (1580-1636)

This paper deals with the second stage of Spanish explorations in the Californian area and the Northern Pacific coast, focusing on their cartographical results. The stategic attention to protect the way to the Philippines and the Spice Islands caused new reconnaissances North of California, which triggered several fantasies about the alleged Anian Strait, which supposedly connected both sides of the ocean in the polar latitudes. After illusion of the supposed voyages led by Fuca and Ferrer was over, interest focused on the exploration along the outer coast of the California peninsula, in order to discover some bases for the Manila gelleon's return. Interest in that area was proven by Vizcaino's expeditions, but the search for pearls carried out by Cardona and others was a failure.

New constraints on the last deglaciation of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet in coastal Southeast Alaska

Understanding marine-terminating ice sheet response to past climate transitions provides valuable long-term context for observations of modern ice sheet change. Here, we reconstruct the last deglaciation of marine-terminating Cordilleran Ice Sheet (CIS) margins in Southeast Alaska and explore potential forcings of western CIS retreat. We combine 27 new cosmogenic 10Be exposure ages, 13 recently published 10Be ages, and 25 new 14C ages from raised marine sediments to constrain CIS recession. Retreat from the outer coast was underway by 17 ka, and the inner fjords and sounds were ice-free by 15 ka. After 15 ka, the western margin of the CIS became primarily land-terminating and alpine glaciers disappeared from the outer coast. Isolated alpine glaciers may have persisted in high inland peaks until the early Holocene. Our results suggest that the most rapid phase of CIS retreat along the Pacific coast occurred between ~17 and 15 ka. This retreat was likely driven by processes operating at the ice-ocean interface, including sea level rise and ocean warming. CIS recession after ~15 ka occurred during a time of climatic amelioration in this region, when both ocean and air temperatures increased. These data highlight the sensitivity of marine-terminating CIS regions to deglacial climate change.

Restoring barrier habitat in Louisiana to compensate for natural resource injuries: Shell Island and Chenier Ronquille Barrier Restoration Projects

Coastal Louisiana received significant funds tied to BP penalties as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. As it is widely considered that the State of Louisiana sustained most of the damage due to this incident, there has been a firm push to waste no time in implementing habitat restoration projects. Sustaining the land on the coast of Louisiana is vital to our nation’s economy, as several of the nation’s largest ports are located on the Gulf coast in Louisiana. In addition, the ecosystems making up the Louisiana coast are important to sustain some of the largest and most valuable fisheries in the nation. Funded by BP Phase 3 Early Restoration, the goals of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Outer Coast Restoration Project are to restore beach, dune, and marsh habitats to help compensate spill-related injuries to habitats and species, specifically brown pelicans, terns, skimmers, and gulls. Four island components in Louisiana were funded under this project; Shell Island Barrier Restoration, Chenier Ronquille Barrier Island Restoration, Caillou Lake Headlands Barrier Island Restoration, and North Breton Island Restoration (https://www. gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/louisiana-outer-coast-restoration, NOAA 2018). Shell Island and Chenier Ronquille are critical pieces of barrier shoreline within the Barataria Basin in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. These large-scale restoration projects were completed in the years following the Deepwater Horizon incident, creating new habitat and reinforcing Louisiana’s Gulf of Mexico shoreline. The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) finished construction of the Shell Island NRDA Restoration Project in 2017, which restored two barrier islands in Plaquemines Parish utilizing sand hydraulically dredged from the Mississippi River and pumped via pipeline over 20 miles over levees and through towns, marinas, and marshes to the coastline. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) also completed the Plaquemines Parish barrier island restoration at Chenier Ronquille in 2017 utilizing nearshore Gulf of Mexico sediment, restoring wetland, coastal, and nearshore habitat in the Barataria Basin. A design and construction overview is provided herein.

Ørnfløya 1. En pionertidslokalitet fra tidlig eldre steinalder på yttersida av Kvaløya i Troms.

Ørnfløya 1. An early Older Stone Age pioneer locality on the outer coast of Kvaløya, Troms. During the past couple of decades both research projects and rescue excavations have contributed considerably to our understanding of the early Older Stone Age pioneer settlement along the entire Norwegian coast. However, understanding of the pioneers along the coast between northern Nordland and Finnmark counties is still rather limited. Excavations have largely taken place on sites within the middle and inner reaches of the fjord systems. The excavation of Ørnfløya 1 in 2013–14 offers new insights into the pioneer settlement on the outer coast facing the North Atlantic. The topographical and environmental settings of the site at the time of occupation are described, followed by a discussion of the excavation, chronology, raw material use, the artifacts, a possible dwelling, and the spatial organization of activities. The site is then interpreted in its regional, economic and settlement system setting, and in its national context.