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Last glacial–interglacial environments in the southern Rocky Mountains, USA and implications for Younger Dryas-age human occupation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Christy E. Briles ,
Cathy Whitlock  and
David J. Meltzer
Christy E. Briles*
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
Cathy Whitlock
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3480, USA
David J. Meltzer
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275-0336, USA
*
*Corresponding author at: Monash University, Clayton Campus, School of Geography and Environmental Science, Building 11, Wellington Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia. E-mail address:christybriles@gmail.com (C.E. Briles).
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Abstract

The last glacial-interglacial transition (LGIT; 19–9 ka) was characterized by rapid climate changes and significant ecosystem reorganizations worldwide. In western Colorado, one of the coldest locations in the continental US today, mountain environments during the late-glacial period are poorly known. Yet, archaeological evidence from the Mountaineer site (2625 m elev.) indicates that Folsom-age Paleoindians were over-wintering in the Gunnison Basin during the Younger Dryas Chronozone (YDC; 12.9–11.7 ka). To determine the vegetation and fire history during the LGIT, and possible explanations for occupation during a period thought to be harsher than today, a 17-ka-old sediment core from Lily Pond (3208 m elev.) was analyzed for pollen and charcoal and compared with other high-resolution records from the southern Rocky Mountains. Widespread tundra and Picea parkland and low fire activity in the cold wet late-glacial period transitioned to open subalpine forest and increased fire activity in the Bølling–Allerød period as conditions became warmer and drier. During the YDC, greater winter snowpack than today and prolonged wet springs likely expanded subalpine forest to lower elevations than today, providing construction material and fuel for the early inhabitants. In the early to middle Holocene, arid conditions resulted in xerophytic vegetation and frequent fire.

Keywords

Last glacial–interglacial transitionYounger Dryas ChronozoneVegetation and fire historyAbrupt climate changeFolsom-age Paleoindians
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 77 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 96 - 103
Copyright
University of Washington

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