The geoarchaeology of the Below Forks Site (FhNG-25), Saskatchewan.

摘要

This thesis was written to provide a background on the research that has been conducted relating to the geomorphic, geologic, paleoenvironmental and archaeological history of the Below Forks Site, Saskatchewan, Canada, as well as present new data regarding the nature and origin of the soils and sediments at the site. Several paleoenvironmental proxy data were collected from the sediments and soils at the site which suggest that while middle Holocene climatic conditions caused the vegetation in the area around the Below Forks Site to become adapted to a warmer and drier environment, local conditions allowed the diverse vegetation at the Below Forks Site to remain stable for the past 6,000 years. This stability of resources may have been attractive to people inhabiting the Northern Plains during this time period. This stability may also be related to the reoccupation of the site during the Altithermal time period.