We present new data on regional correction factor (Delta R) conducted for Chukotka, the Commander Islands, and the western Aleutian Islands and summarize data previously published for the other parts of the region. Paired radiocarbon dates of coeval marine and terrestrial materials from the archaeological site Kaniskak were obtained in Chukotka, and one such pair was analyzed from Shemya Island (western Aleutians). Three samples of sea otter (Enhydra lutris) bones of known collection date were used for the Commander Islands. In conjunction with previously published data, the new results showed that Delta R estimates conducted for the five regions of the northern Pacific do not differ statistically. Delta R assessments combined for archaeological sites resulted in probability density curves of the same shape as that of marine organisms. Comparison of Delta R estimates made with various species of marine animals showed that sea otters and small fishes residing within coastal waters throughout their life histories are better suited for Delta R measurements than migrating seals, on the one hand, and the shells of sedentary organisms, on the other. The study provides additional support to the hypothesis that the northern Pacific is characterized by the same reservoir offset, which we estimate as 525 +/- 75 yr.

AbstractIn the Aleutian Islands during the Holocene, terrestrial predators were actually absent; as a result, large seabird colonies thrived along the coasts or across entire islands. Bird guano enriches the soil with nitrogen, which can lead to the formation of highly modified ornithogenic (bird‐formed) ecosystems. For a more detailed investigation of avian influence, we reconstructed more than 10,000‐year‐old vegetation dynamics of the coast of Shemya Island (Near Islands) by pollen analysis. At the initial stages of vegetation development (10,000–4,600 cal year BP), sedge–heather tundra grew in the studied area. A seabird colony existed on Shemya from 4,600 to 2,400 cal year BP according to stable isotope analysis. During a period of at least 2,200 years, nitrogen enrichment led to the development of ornithogenic herb meadows with a high presence of Apiaceae. A long‐term increase in δ15N above 9–10‰ led to radical shifts in vegetation. Noticeable reduction of seabird colonies due to human hunting led to grass‐meadows spreading. After a prolonged decrease δ15N below 9–10‰ (2,400 cal year BP to present), there was a shift toward less productive sedge‐tundra communities. However, the significant enrichment of guano affected only the coastal vegetation and did not alter the inland Shemya Island.

AbstractCombined archaeological, ecological, and geologic research on Chuginadak and Carlisle Islands in the Islands of Four Mountains (IFM) probed questions about the sustainability of human settlements over the past 4000 years in the face of geologic, ecological, and social hazards. We use a human ecodynamics approach to frame the investigation and present original archaeological evidence from this poorly known region of the remote Aleutian Islands. Several village sites occupied during the last four millennia are clustered in locations that were not damaged by earthquake-induced tsunamis; however, new geologic evidence indicates that at least one volcanic eruption forced humans to abandon one or more prehistoric village sites. Combined archaeological, ecological, and geologic analyses demonstrate resilient Unangax̂ occupations of the IFM through long-term climate change as well as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions with occasional community vulnerability to volcanic eruptions.

Abstract We present the results of multiproxy study of a peat deposit from Carlisle Island (the Islands of Four Mountains, Aleutians). Vegetation on the initial stage of the peat is characterized by heath vegetation dominated by Ericales indicating cold conditions at 7300–6100 cal yr BP. The appearance of Betula and Alnus is the result of long-distance transportation attributable to strong winds at this time. Sedge-grass (Cyperaceae and Poaceae) communities began replacing heath vegetation at 6100 cal yr BP because of the climatic amelioration. C/N ratios and pollen spectra remain relatively stable at 6100–2450 cal yr BP. For the CR-03 peatland, volcanic tephra contributed significantly to the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectral data. Volcanic input created overlap of an aluminosilicate signal with carbohydrate vibrations. Significant changes occurred at approximately 2450 cal yr BP when there is the some evidence of cooler and wetter conditions of the Neoglacial. High values of δ15N observed at 7100–7000 cal yr BP reflect the fertilizing effect of seabird nesting colonies. A decrease in δ15N ca. 6900 cal yr BP may indicate initial settlement on Carlisle Island corresponding with harvesting seabirds. Human predation continued until a series of volcanic eruptions, which deposited Okmok II and CR-02 tephra layers at ca. 2000 and 1050 cal yr BP, respectively.

We discuss the cultural roles of dog and red fox recovered from Carlisle Island, Islands of Four Mountains, Alaska, within the context of Aleutian ethnographic and zooarchaeological records. Three dog bones were recovered from the Ulyagan archaeological site, Unit 5, in levels that date to AD 1450-1645. Three red fox bones come from the Ulyagan site, Unit 4, in levels that date 460 BC-AD 95. Our analyses show that both red fox and domestic dog date earlier than the contact with Russians and that these canids do not extend west of the Islands of Four Mountains archipelago. Given the rich history of human intervention on the Aleutians ecosystems over the last 250 years, we argue that indigenous red fox inhabited the Islands of the Four Mountains region prior to western contact; however, foxes did not have a pronounced cultural role for prehistoric Aleuts. Domestic dogs accompanied humans in the Aleutians after AD 950, suggesting that these canids might be linked with the Neo-Aleut culture. In the light of Arctic and oceanic cases of human use of dogs considered in the paper, we suggest that dogs might have served as reserve food sources during long trips for people migrating west.

AbstractThis first zooarchaeological analysis for the Islands of Four Mountains (IFM), Aleutian Islands, Alaska, provides data about local hunter-gatherer resource exploitation over three thousand yr. The majority of zooarchaeological material represents faunal resources that were harvested within several kilometers of villages. Our analysis shows that IFM subsistence system was shaped by the small size of these islands, which is mostly true for all of the Aleutian Islands. The archaeological middens indicate that Aleuts readily exploited new resources when they became available, expanding their dietary niche. Despite human harvesting, most faunal populations remained stable; however, Aleuts overexploited the storm-petrel colony on Carlisle Island.

Using six paired terrestrial and marine organics collected in the Islands of Four Mountains, Alaska, we present a new regional correction factor, Delta R (495 +/- 20 yr), for the eastern Aleutians. We compare our Delta R with previous North Pacific marine corrections. Using the Delta R for the eastern Aleutians, we calibrated the radiocarbon dates of 80 human skeletons recovered from village site Chaluka and cave burials at Ship Rock and Kagamil Islands. These burial places contain two morphologically and genetically distinct humans-an early form called Paleo-Aleut and a later form called Neo-Aleut. Researchers have contested (1) the timing of Neo-Aleut movements into the Aleutians, and (2) Neo-Aleut interactions with Paleo-Aleuts. Our recalibrations indicate that the oldest Paleo-Aleut burial (1135 BC) occurred at Chaluka and the youngest Paleo-Aleut cave burial occurred at Kagamil during the fourteenth century (AD 1305). Neo-Aleuts buried their dead at Chaluka by AD 1375. The oldest definitive Neo-Aleut cave burial occurred during the fifteenth century (AD 1420) at Ship Rock. Eastern Aleuts buried their dead in caves for centuries, with the youngest Neo-Aleut buried at Kagamil circa AD 1865.

ABSTRACTWe collected peat sediments (sediment core ADK13083002) from Haven Lake on the north side of Adak Island (central Aleutian Islands, Alaska) to determine whether the vegetation has changed. We confirmed the presence of six tephra layers, including Forty Years (0.3 cal ka BP), T2, YBO (3.3 cal ka BP), Intermediate (6.4 cal ka BP), Main (9.5 cal ka BP), and T6. We identified four major pollen assemblage zones (HL-1 to HL-4, in descending order) in the cored sediment. HL-1 was dominated by Ranunculaceae and Empetrum pollen; H-2 was dominated by Poaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Empetrum pollen; HL-3 was dominated by Poaceae and Empetrum pollen; and HL-4 was dominated by Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Lycopodiaceae, and Empetrum pollen. Small charcoal particles, likely transported from a distance, were found at low frequencies until 6.4 cal ka BP. The total cross-sectional area of charcoal particles increased to 1500 μm2 or more by 6.4 cal ka BP, implying that the large charcoal particles originated from nearby Aleut settlements, which were established around the same time.

ABSTRACTWe obtained radiocarbon (14C) dates with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) of vascular plant samples and a charcoal sample collected from peat deposits near the prehistoric village site informally designated CR-03 on Carlisle Island in the Islands of Four Mountains group, Alaska, to determine the eruption age of the CR-02 tephra. A fine vitric ash erupted from Okmok caldera, Umnak Island (ca. 2 ka BP) was also discovered in the bog. The ages of the CR-02 tephra and Okmok II ash are estimated to be 1050 and 2000 cal BP, respectively. Because both tephras are distinctive and widespread, these are important chronostratigraphic markers for archaeological sites in this island group. The 14C dates obtained from this bog are 800 years younger than the dates of the charcoal fragments from cultural layers in the Unit 3 of prehistoric village site CR-02 (AMK-0003).

An interdisciplinary research team conducted archaeological, geological, and biological investigations in the Islands of the Four Mountains, Alaska during the summer of 2014 as part of a three-year project to study long-term geological and ecological patterns and processes with respect to human settlement. Researchers investigated three archaeological sites on Chuginadak Island (SAM-0014, SAM-0016 and SAM-0047) and two archaeological sites on Carlisle Island (AMK-0003 and SAM-0034) as well as peat, tephra, and lava deposition on those islands. These investigations resulted in the delineation of archaeological sites, documentation of geological and cultural stratigraphy, excavation of house-pit features, visual characterization and sampling of potential lithic sources, and documentation of Unangan occupation in the Islands of the Four Mountains from roughly 3,800 years ago to Russian contact.

To determine the effect of volcanic eruptions, we have to construct detailed chronology.* Useful tephras in Holocene tephra stratigraphy * Detailed age determination for two tephras using radiocarbon dates of peat * The CR--02 tephra intercalated with cultural layers * Distribution and possible source of the CR--02 tephra Contents CR02 Aleut Archaeological site CR--02 (AMK--0003) on SE coast of Carlisle Cleveland volcano * The CR-02 tephra (ca. 1 cal kBP) and ca. 2 cal kBP fine vitric ash are useful tools for determining the effect of volcanic eruptions on prehistoric habitations.* Distribution of the CR-02 tephra indicates prehistoric village CR-02 might be affected by this eruption.* However, people might continue activity around there.We have to check time lag more carefully. Conclusion

During 2014, archaeologists with the NSF funded research project “Geological Hazards, Climate Change, and Human Resilience in the Islands of the Four Mountains” conducted their first season of fieldwork on Chuginadak and Carlisle Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Preliminary results identified multiple component village sites. These include the Ulyagan site on Carlisle, with a Russian period and one or more prehistoric period occupation. Large, rectangular houses and metal artifacts represent the Russian occupation. Lithic artifacts recovered from below the Russian occupation represent the prehistoric component in possibly two or more cultural lenses, and include bullet shaped style points similar to those found at the Margaret Bay site on Unalaska, Alaska. The U.S. BIA previously dated the lower components at this site to 3200±70 radiocarbon years before present (RCYBP), 1940± RCYBP, and 1690±70 RCYBP (Cooper 1991). Archaeologists also identified prehistoric occupations at three sites (Blue Cove, Black Peak, and Applegate Cove) on nearby Chuginadak Island. Confirmation of the ages of these occupations is awaiting radiocarbon results, and further excavations will occur in 2015.

Radiocarbon dates (n = 18) from three archaeological sites on Adak Island, Alaska, were analyzed to understand the marine reservoir offset. Samples of marine and terrestrial origins recovered from the same archaeological context were compiled in nine pairs. The mean ΔR value calculated for them totaled 545 ± 10 yr. This value can be regarded as a sound estimate of the marine reservoir offset in the central Aleutians.