Supplementary material from "Sedimentary biomarkers and bone specimens reveal a history of prehistoric occupation on Somerset Island (Arctic Canada)" ...

• Main Authors: Gallant, Lauren R., Hargan, Kathryn E., Kimpe, Lynda, Michelutti, Neal, Grooms, Christopher, Savelle, James M, Smol, John P., Blais, Jules M
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: The Royal Society 2024
• Subjects: Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified; Nunavut; Somerset Island
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7308647.v1; https://rs.figshare.com/collections/Supplementary_material_from_Sedimentary_biomarkers_and_bone_specimens_reveal_a_history_of_prehistoric_occupation_on_Somerset_Island_Arctic_Canada_/7308647/1

Archeological studies of pre-historic Arctic cultures are often limited to artefacts and architecture; such records may be incomplete and often do not provide a continuous record of past occupation. Here, we used lake sediment archives to supplement archeological evidence to explore the history of Thule and Dorset populations on Somerset Island, Nunavut (Canada). We examined biomarkers in dated sediment cores from two ponds adjacent to Thule settlements (PaJs-3 and PaJs-13) and compared these to sediment cores from two ponds without past human occupation. Coprostanol and epicoprostanol, δ15N measurements, sedimentary chlorophyll a , and the ratio of diatom valves to chrysophyte cysts were elevated in the dated sediment profiles at both sites during Thule and Dorset occupations. Periods of pronounced human impact during Thule occupation of the site were corroborated by 14 C-dated caribou bones found at both sites that identified intense caribou hunting between ca. 1100-1500 CE. Notably, these data show ...