Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science
Ice-rich syncryogenic (termed “Ice Complex”) deposits are common in northern East Siberia and constitute the most important feature of the Quaternary geology of the region. The Ice Complex formed throughout the Late Pleistocene and not only contains an archive of paleoenvironmental proxies such as P...
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Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.744775 https://doaj.org/article/000aa1c07edf4c4f962b15fdcbc3efbc |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:000aa1c07edf4c4f962b15fdcbc3efbc 2023-05-15T15:02:17+02:00 Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science Vladimir V. Pitulko Elena Y. Pavlova 2022-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.744775 https://doaj.org/article/000aa1c07edf4c4f962b15fdcbc3efbc EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.744775/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2021.744775 https://doaj.org/article/000aa1c07edf4c4f962b15fdcbc3efbc Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 9 (2022) Arctic East Siberia ice complex syngenetic permafrost development cryoturbation permafrost polygon pattern Yana site complex Science Q article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.744775 2022-12-31T10:06:12Z Ice-rich syncryogenic (termed “Ice Complex”) deposits are common in northern East Siberia and constitute the most important feature of the Quaternary geology of the region. The Ice Complex formed throughout the Late Pleistocene and not only contains an archive of paleoenvironmental proxies such as Pleistocene faunal remains, but also comprises a record of human habitation spanning ∼50,000 years, beginning with early MIS3. The development of syngenetic permafrost is an important variable in the formation of archaeological contexts in this depositional setting. Excavations of the Yana site complex in the lower Yana River area provide a unique opportunity to study archaeological finds preserved in Ice Complex deposits. Based on long-term field observations and dating results, we present important conclusions concerning the geology of the Yana sites. Taphonomic biases with potential to obscure the archaeological record are discussed. The thawing of frozen primary deposits has distorted depositional sequences, leading to the formation of secondary features and contexts, e.g., ice-wedge casts. Collapsed blocks of frozen sediment with undisturbed fragments of frozen layers containing artifacts and/or paleobiotic remains may become incorporated and refrozen into another depositional sequence and a source of misinterpretation and chronometric error. Furthermore, severe cryoturbation within the polygonal mounds warps the sediment in contact with the ice wedges; as a result, the contents of the sediment is uplifted with important consequences: 1) the hypsometric provenience of datable material is altered, creating chronometry problems; 2) in archaeology, there is an increased potential for misinterpretations with respect to dating, cultural classification, and human behavior; 3) transported material may form secondary concentrations at different hypsometric levels and thus bring further complications for its understanding; 4) in geology, the transportation of geochemical signatures may lead to erroneous interpretation of ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Ice permafrost wedge* Siberia Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Yana River ENVELOPE(134.625,134.625,67.662,67.662) Frontiers in Earth Science 9 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic East Siberia ice complex syngenetic permafrost development cryoturbation permafrost polygon pattern Yana site complex Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Arctic East Siberia ice complex syngenetic permafrost development cryoturbation permafrost polygon pattern Yana site complex Science Q Vladimir V. Pitulko Elena Y. Pavlova Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science |
topic_facet |
Arctic East Siberia ice complex syngenetic permafrost development cryoturbation permafrost polygon pattern Yana site complex Science Q |
description |
Ice-rich syncryogenic (termed “Ice Complex”) deposits are common in northern East Siberia and constitute the most important feature of the Quaternary geology of the region. The Ice Complex formed throughout the Late Pleistocene and not only contains an archive of paleoenvironmental proxies such as Pleistocene faunal remains, but also comprises a record of human habitation spanning ∼50,000 years, beginning with early MIS3. The development of syngenetic permafrost is an important variable in the formation of archaeological contexts in this depositional setting. Excavations of the Yana site complex in the lower Yana River area provide a unique opportunity to study archaeological finds preserved in Ice Complex deposits. Based on long-term field observations and dating results, we present important conclusions concerning the geology of the Yana sites. Taphonomic biases with potential to obscure the archaeological record are discussed. The thawing of frozen primary deposits has distorted depositional sequences, leading to the formation of secondary features and contexts, e.g., ice-wedge casts. Collapsed blocks of frozen sediment with undisturbed fragments of frozen layers containing artifacts and/or paleobiotic remains may become incorporated and refrozen into another depositional sequence and a source of misinterpretation and chronometric error. Furthermore, severe cryoturbation within the polygonal mounds warps the sediment in contact with the ice wedges; as a result, the contents of the sediment is uplifted with important consequences: 1) the hypsometric provenience of datable material is altered, creating chronometry problems; 2) in archaeology, there is an increased potential for misinterpretations with respect to dating, cultural classification, and human behavior; 3) transported material may form secondary concentrations at different hypsometric levels and thus bring further complications for its understanding; 4) in geology, the transportation of geochemical signatures may lead to erroneous interpretation of ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Vladimir V. Pitulko Elena Y. Pavlova |
author_facet |
Vladimir V. Pitulko Elena Y. Pavlova |
author_sort |
Vladimir V. Pitulko |
title |
Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science |
title_short |
Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science |
title_full |
Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science |
title_fullStr |
Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structural Properties of Syngenetic Ice-Rich Permafrost, as Revealed by Archaeological Investigation of the Yana Site Complex (Arctic East Siberia, Russia): Implications for Quaternary Science |
title_sort |
structural properties of syngenetic ice-rich permafrost, as revealed by archaeological investigation of the yana site complex (arctic east siberia, russia): implications for quaternary science |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.744775 https://doaj.org/article/000aa1c07edf4c4f962b15fdcbc3efbc |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(134.625,134.625,67.662,67.662) |
geographic |
Arctic Yana River |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Yana River |
genre |
Arctic Ice permafrost wedge* Siberia |
genre_facet |
Arctic Ice permafrost wedge* Siberia |
op_source |
Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 9 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.744775/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2021.744775 https://doaj.org/article/000aa1c07edf4c4f962b15fdcbc3efbc |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.744775 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Earth Science |
container_volume |
9 |
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1766334245281726464 |