FIRST DIRECT RADIOCARBON DATING (22–27 CAL KA BP) OF MASSIVE ICE AT THE MECHIGMEN AND LAVRENTIYA BAYS COAST, EASTERN CHUKOTKA

• Published in: Radiocarbon
• Main Authors: Vasil’chuk, Yurij K, Budantseva, Nadine A, Maslakov, Alexey A, Vasil’chuk, Alla C, Vasil’chuk, Jessica Yu
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2024
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Archeology; Chukotka; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/rdc.2024.21; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033822224000213

ABSTRACT The Eastern Chukotka is considered a unique permafrost region where massive ice bodies are widespread. However, the origin and age of these ice formations are often discussed. The age of the massive ice of Chukotka was established for the first time using AMS 14 C dating. It was revealed that three massive ice bodies on the coast of Mechigmen Bay were formed at the end of the Late Pleistocene: a) near the Akkani site, 21,612 to 22,147 cal BP; b) near the Lavrentiya settlement, 27,553 cal BP; and c) near the Lavrentiya settlement, 22,193 cal BP. Stable isotope values in the studied massive ice vary in a rather wide range by about 10‰ for δ 18 O values (from –14.8‰ to –24.5‰) and about 75‰ for the δ 2 H values (from –116‰ to –191‰). The studied massive ice bodies are of intrasedimental genesis and formed epigenetically during the final stage of MIS2 (22–27 cal ka BP).