Helens Volcanic Eruptions Had Upon Prehistoric Populations in The
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Loren G. Davis for the degree of Master of Arts inInterdisciplinary Studies in Anthropology Geography and Soil Science, presented on May 18,1995. Title: Volcanism, Climate Change. and Prehistoric CulturalSuccession in Southern Washington and North-Central Idaho. Abstract approved: /; David R. Brauner The cultural influence of volcanic eruptions has beenemphasized in the archaeological literature. However, the largereffects that Mount St. Helens volcanic eruptions had upon prehistoricpopulations in the Pacific Northwest is not understood. This thesis asks questionsof the archaeological and paleoenvironmental record of the PacificNorthwest to assess the degree of influence Late Pleistocene and Holocene volcaniceruptions of Mount St. Helens had upon the cultural record of human existencein southern Washington and north-central Idaho. The record of eruptiveactivity at Mount St. Helens is reviewed and its tephra lobesmapped from reports of pyroclastic identification in the Pacific Northwest and westernCanada, to gain a temporal and spatial understanding of the eruptions.A general systemic model is presented to identify the factorsresponsible for the deposition, removal and alteration of tephra. Thismodel illustrates the complexity of tephrostratigraphic deposition, and increasesthe awareness of its residence within archaeological sites. Several setsof paleoenvironmental data are correlated with archaeological records ofhuman occupation in southern Washington and north-central Idaho,including records of pollen fluctuation, glacial advance, volcanic activity at MountSt. Helens, and the Late Quaternary history of volcanic acidity inGreenland ice.This correlation illustrates an incipient relationship betweenvolcanic activity, Quaternary history of volcanic acidity in Greenland ice.This correlation illustrates an incipient relationship between volcanic activity, climate change, and cultural behavior. Cultural historical successions and site occupation in areas between the southern Cascadesof Washington and the Clearwater River drainage of north-central Idaho appear to be contemporaneous withregional and hemispheric records of volcanic activity, and changing environmental conditions. ©Copyright by Loren G. Davis May 18, 1995 All Rights Reserved Volcanism, Climate Change, and Prehistoric Cultural Succession in Southern Washington and North-Central Idaho try Loren G. Davis A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Completed May 12, 1995 Commencement June 1996 Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies thesis of Loren G. Davis presented on May 18, 1995 APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Anthropology Associate ?cofessr, rep -ntingGeography Assocte Professor, represting Soil Science 741i Chair of De artment of Anthopolpgy U Dean of Gradua chool I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Loren G. Davis, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In design, the thesis is the effort of a singleperson, in the articulation of personal research. In reality, this product has been helped, supported, and improved by many important people.I would like to thank David Brauner for his patience, guidance and insightful comments; this thesis is greatly enhanced by his help. The wise advice and realist perspective of David Sisson allowed me to actually see the end of this project.I thank him for his flexibility andwnderstanding during the pastyear. For their helpful commnts, constructive feedback, and invaluable assistance I thank Scott "Angus MacHaggis" Billings, George Wisner, and Rick McClure. I thankmy parents Dianne and Jerry Striefel for their support and encouragement during these years; I owe you both a great deal. Those of you, too numerous toname, who have provided help along the way, I appreciate your efforts. Lastly, I would like to recognize the heroic understanding and limitless endurance of my lovely wife, Julie. Throughout this process of research and writing, she has been an invaluable source of support. As my strongest advocate,, she has been the fundamental source of my energies. This thesis is dedicated to her. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Definition of Problem 4 Statement of Purpose 5 CHAPTER 2: INVESTIGATIVE METHODOLOGY 6 Research Design 6 The Geographic and Geologic Setting of the Study Area 7 Cultural Setting of the Study Area 12 Investigative Methods 13 Research Questions 15 Summary of Following Chapters 17 CHAPTER 3: CULTURE AND CULTURE CHANGE 21 CHAPTER 4: THE POST-GLACIAL ERUPTIVE HISTORY OF MOUNT ST. HELENS 25 Swift Creek Eruptive Period (ca. 13,000 to Ca. 10,000 Years B.P.) 27 Smith Creek Eruptive Period (ca. 4,000 to Ca. 2,900 years B.P.) 27 Pine Creek Eruptive Period (ca. 2,900 to ca. 2,400 years B.P.) 27 Castle Creek Eruptive Period (ca. 2,400 to Ca. 1,620 years B.P.) 27 Sugar Bowl Eruptive Period (1,200 years B.P.) 28 Kalama Eruptive Period (470 to >150 years B.P.) 28 Goat Rocks Eruptive Period (150 years B.P.) 28 Distribution of Mount St. Helens Tephra Within Study Area 29 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) CHAPTER 5: MODELING IMPACTS OF VOLCANIC TEPHRA-FALLS UPON PREHISTORIC POPULATIONS 33 CHAPTER 6: VOLCANIC TEPHRA AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD 38 The Nature of Archaeological Stratigraphy 38 Systemic Modeling of Processes Affecting Tephra Deposits 40 Epistemological Considerations 43 The Depositional System of Eruptive Tephras 44 Materials Properties of Tephra 48 Geomorphic Influences Upon Post-Depositional Tephra 50 Pedological Influences and Volcanic Tephras 51 Bioturbation and Other Sources of In Situ Tephra Disturbance 53 Cultural Disturbance 54 Discussion 55 CHAPTER 7: CLIMATICALLY-EFFECTIVE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS: PRODUCT, PROCESS AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS 56 Volcanic Aerosols and Climatic Forcing 56 Climatically-Effective Eruptions: Analogous Case Studies 61 The Late Quaternary Record of Volcanic Activity 62 Paleoclimatic Implications of Volcanic Eruptions 67 Summary 71 CHAPTER 8: VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, GLACIAL ICE, AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECORDS OF CLIMATE 73 The Glacial Record of Volcanic Eruptions 74 Volcanic Acidity and Climatic Forcing: Proxy Data 79 Proxy Data Revisited: Problems and Considerations 83 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) CHAPTER 9: REGIONAL PALEOCLIMATIC HISTORY 85 The Paleoenvironmental Record of the Study Area 86 Wildcat Lake 86 Fargher Lake 91 Carp Lake 91 Creston Mire 95 The Geomorphological Record of Climate Change 97 Summary 100 CHAPTER 10: CULTURAL CASE STUDIES: AN OVERVIEW 101 The Culture History of the Study Area 101 The Prehistoric Record of the Middle Columbia River Basin 101 The Prehistoric Record of the Lower Snake River Canyon 104 The Prehistoric Record of the Clearwater River Drainage 108 The Prehistoric Record of the Southern Washington Cascade Range 110 Overview of Case Study Sites to be Presented 111 CHAPTER 11: ARCHAEOLOGICAL CASE STUDIES 114 Koapk (45-LE-209) 114 Site Stratigraphy 114 Cultural Occupation 118 Sub-Tephra Component 118 Above-Tephra Component 120 The Nature of Human Occupation at the Koapk Site 121 Sunset Creek (45-KT-28) 123 Site Stratigraphy 124 Cultural Occupation 125 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) The Nature of Human Occupation at the Sunset Creek Site 129 Granite Point Locality 1 (45-WT-41) 131 Site Stratigraphy 131 Cultural Occupation 133 The Nature of Human Occupation at Granite Point Locality 1 136 Windust Caves (45-FR-46) 138 Site Stratigraphy 138 Cultural Occupation 140 The Nature of Human Occupation at Windust Caves 144 Marmes Rockshelter (45-FR-50) 145 Site Stratigraphy 146 Cultural Occupation 148 The Nature of Human Occupation at Marmes Rockshelter 155 Hatwai (10-NP-143) 156 Site Stratigraphy 156 Cultural Occupation 159 CHAPTER 12: SYNTHESIS 165 The Data Explained 166 Discusssion 171 Temporal Perspective of Cultural Succession 173 Spatial Perspective of Cultural Succession 175 CHAPTER 13: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 179 Research Questions Addressed 179 Cultural Adaptation to Volcanic Events 184 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Systemic Modeling and the Humanist Perspective 186 Conclusions and Recommendations for Future Research 189 REFERENCES 191 APPENDIX: INDEX OF TEPHRA LOCALITIES 212 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page Map of study area 8 Selected archaeological sites in the study area 14 Distribution of Late-Pleistocene and Holocene tephra from Mount St. Helens 32 Systemic model of tephra-fall impacts upon ecosystems 36 Systemic model of tephra-inclusive depositional mechanics 42 Diagrammatical model of eruption dynamics 46 Diagrammatical model of eruptive aerosol production 58 Volcanic aerosols and global albedo: net climatic effects 59 Correlation between observations of volcanic sulfur production and climatic forcing 63 Greenland ice core record of volcanic activity 66 Feedback loops: a model of climatic effectiveness 69 Comparison between the Antarctic volcanic tephra record and paleotemperature data 70 Greenland record of volcanic acidity from the Crete core 75 Correlation between the Greenland record of ice acidity and glacial fluctuations in the northern hemisphere 76 Greenland record of ice acidity from the Camp Century core 78 Volcanic aerosol formation and the precedence of glacial activity 81 Volcanic production of atmospheric sulfur and the Little Ice Age 82 Map of pollen core sites reported within the study area 88 LIST OF FIGURES (CONTINUED) Figure Page Record