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Reconstructing the Highwood River’s Holocene palaeoecology : assessment of organic-rich alluvial samples collected following the 2013 flood event

Description

Periodic flood events are normal for rivers. These events sometimes deposit sediments that trap biological remains that can be used to reconstruct the local environment. Following the 2013... More ≫

Description

Periodic flood events are normal for rivers. These events sometimes deposit sediments that trap biological remains that can be used to reconstruct the local environment. Following the 2013 flooding of the Highwood River, southwestern Alberta, 24 organic-rich palaeoenvironmental samples were collected from the river’s banks at 14 localities. Data synthesis generated a detectable signal of climatic change throughout the Holocene. The general trend shows a progression from drier conditions in the early Holocene towards relatively moist conditions today. This study is the first detailed examination of near-river palaeoenvironmental conditions in southern Alberta.

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Geochemical characterization of tephra deposits at archaeological and palaeoenvironmental sites across south-central Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan

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The Mazama Ash is one of the mostly widely distributed tephra units in North America, present as a visible ash in sediments of early Holocene age. It is considered one of the most important... More ≫

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The Mazama Ash is one of the mostly widely distributed tephra units in North America, present as a visible ash in sediments of early Holocene age. It is considered one of the most important stratigraphic markers across this region and is commonly used to ascribe age control to sites. Here we present new major-element geochemical analyses from archaeological and sedimentary sites across south-central Alberta and Saskatchewan. We confirm Mazama at most sites, but the presence of Bridge River (and potentially Mount St. Helens) indicates that major-element geochemical data is an important, if not necessary, component to identifying tephra in this region.

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The Smuland Creek site and implications for Palaeoindian site prospection in the Peace Region of northwestern Alberta

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Cultural resource management survey of a proposed pipeline corridor stretching across uplands to the southeast of Grande Prairie resulted in the discovery of the Smuland Creek site. Preliminary... More ≫

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Cultural resource management survey of a proposed pipeline corridor stretching across uplands to the southeast of Grande Prairie resulted in the discovery of the Smuland Creek site. Preliminary subsurface testing yielded the proximal portion of a basally thinned (fluted) projectile point and a graver artifact, both diagnostic of earliest prehistoric times in the Peace Region of Alberta and British Columbia. Further survey yielded additional evidence for prehistoric occupation. The new discoveries present preliminary evidence for early human presence in the region that may be associated with older, upland glacial lake features. The merits of this hypothesis are examined and the implications for Palaeoindian site prospection in the Peace Region are discussed.

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New radiocarbon dates for early use of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

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Three new radiocarbon dates were obtained from the oldest deposits at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump , in southern Alberta in an effort to more accurately bracket the earliest utilization of this... More ≫

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Three new radiocarbon dates were obtained from the oldest deposits at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump , in southern Alberta in an effort to more accurately bracket the earliest utilization of this significant site. This paper reports on those dates and places the early use of the site by Mummy Cave complex cultures in a broader chronological context of bison jump use on the Great Plains.

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A collaborative undertaking to excavate and reinter a historic burial (FgOw-2) near Viking, central Alberta

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In late summer of 2015, human remains were exposed by a badger dig in a field near Viking, Alberta. Staff of the Historic Resources Management Branch of Alberta Culture and Tourism. HRMB staff... More ≫

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In late summer of 2015, human remains were exposed by a badger dig in a field near Viking, Alberta. Staff of the Historic Resources Management Branch of Alberta Culture and Tourism. HRMB staff worked collaboratively with representatives from the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations and others to determine the most appropriate approach for dealing with this burial, and it was decided that the remainder of the burial should be removed and reburied in a new protected location. Based on a brief analysis of the bones and associated artifacts, it was determined that the individual was likely a 13 to 14 year old Aboriginal female who died as early as the 1830s.

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Back on the horse : recent developments in archaeological and palaeontological research in Alberta

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This is the 36th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series. The Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series was established in 1976 as a means of... More ≫

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This is the 36th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series. The Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series was established in 1976 as a means of disseminating information to archaeological specialists in Alberta. The series was discontinued from 1994 to 2015, but was re-established in 2016 as an online resource. This first volume is a series of manuscripts authored, in whole or part, by past and present staff of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta and Royal Alberta Museum.

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Development and early results of the spatial data standards for archaeological survey and excavation in Alberta

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This paper outlines the history of the use of spatial data at the Archaeological Survey of Alberta. Prior to 2005, spatial information was recorded on paper from numerous sources, which made the... More ≫

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This paper outlines the history of the use of spatial data at the Archaeological Survey of Alberta. Prior to 2005, spatial information was recorded on paper from numerous sources, which made the review of archaeological assessments and development impacts arduous and imprecise. In 2014 the Archaeological Survey of released the Spatial Data Standards for Survey and Excavation, which provided requirements and standards for submission of spatial data from consulting archaeologists and other researchers working in Alberta. As a result, a rich and detailed database of archaeological spatial data is available to researchers and government employees.

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Calcined bone radiocarbon dates from the mineable oil sands region, northeastern Alberta

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The majority of radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites in the mineable oil sands region of northeastern Alberta have been obtained from calcined (i.e., cremated) bone samples. Bone dates from... More ≫

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The majority of radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites in the mineable oil sands region of northeastern Alberta have been obtained from calcined (i.e., cremated) bone samples. Bone dates from 25 archaeological sites in the mineable oil sands region of northeastern Alberta are compiled and calibrated to calendar ages. Results show that calcined bone ages are an important source of chronological information in northern Alberta, and best practices for the collection of samples in the boreal forest are presented.

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A summary of Alberta archaeology sites, 1992-2015

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A total of 16,775 archaeological sites were recorded in Alberta between 1992 and 2015, making up 40 per cent of known sites in the province. Another 8,594 sites were revisited during the same time... More ≫

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A total of 16,775 archaeological sites were recorded in Alberta between 1992 and 2015, making up 40 per cent of known sites in the province. Another 8,594 sites were revisited during the same time period. New discoveries, either through initial recording or excavation from 1992 to 2015, have contributed significantly to the archaeological record of Alberta. Some of the most notable sites recorded or excavated between 1992 and 2015 are summarized in this article.

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Looking forward : flood recovery and the next issue of the Occasional Paper series

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The 2013 southern Alberta floods and the 2016 Fort McMurray fire serve as strong reminders of how quickly natural disaster can shape our understanding of both the present and the past. The... More ≫

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The 2013 southern Alberta floods and the 2016 Fort McMurray fire serve as strong reminders of how quickly natural disaster can shape our understanding of both the present and the past. The Archaeological Survey of Alberta is planning an edited thematic volume of the Occasional Papers Series that focuses on the role of natural disasters in understanding Alberta’s historic resources.

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