Late-Quaternary geomorphic processes: effects on the ancient Aleuts of

• Main Author: Robert F. Black
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1975
• Subjects: Aléoutes; Arctic; Beringia
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.694.4405; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic28-3-159.pdf

ABSTRACT. Glaciation, volcanic activity, marine processes and wind action affected in various ways the lives of the ancient Aleuts of Umnak Island, who first settled at Anangula about 8,400 BP following deglaciation some 3,000 years earlier. Expanding alpine glaciers reached the sea in places about 3,000 BP without the nearby peoples being much affected. A catastrophic eruption of Okmok Volcano about 8,250 BP is suggested as the cause of the abandonment of the oldest known site of Anangula, and subsequent migration westward into the central Aleutians. Cutting of strandflats between 8,250 and 3,000 BP led to the development of a very large, accessible, year-round food resource, and an apparent proliferation of settlements. In marked contrast to other parts of Beringia, Umnak Island became the site most favourable for human settlement. RfiSUMe: Les processus géomorphologiques fini-quaternaires et leurs conséquences pour les anciens Aléoutes de M e d’Umnak dans les Aléoutiennes. La glaciation, l’activite vol-canique, les processus marins et l’action du vent ont affect6 de diverses façons la vie des anciens Aleoutes de l’ile d‘Umnak, qui s’établirent B Anangula vers 8400 AP, soit environ 3000 ans après la deglaciation. Les glaciers alpins en expansion atteignirent la