Abstract

Anomalous peak abundances of platinum and Fe-rich microspherules with high-temperature minerals have previously been demonstrated to be a chronostratigraphic marker for the lower Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB) dating to 12.8 ka. This study used Bayesian analyses to test this hypothesis in multiple sequences (units) of sandy, weakly stratified sediments at Wakulla Springs, Florida. Our investigations included platinum geochemistry, granulometry, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, and culturally dated lithics. In addition, sediments were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy to investigate dendritic, iron-rich microspherules previously identified elsewhere in peak abundances at the onset of the Younger Dryas (YD) cool climatic episode. Our work has revealed this abundance peak in platinum and dendritic spherules in five sediment sequences at Wakulla Springs. A YDB age of ~ 12.8 ka for the platinum and spherule chronostratigraphic datum in these Wakulla Springs sequences is consistent with the archaeological data and OSL dating. This study confirms the utility of this YDB datum layer for intersequence correlation and for assessing relative ages of Paleoamerican artifacts, including those of likely Clovis, pre-Clovis, and post-Clovis age and their possible responses to environmental changes known to have occurred during the Younger Dryas cool climatic episode.

Details

Title
Platinum and microspherule peaks as chronostratigraphic markers for onset of the Younger Dryas at Wakulla Springs, Florida
Author
Moore, Christopher R. 1 ; Brooks, Mark J. 1 ; Dunbar, James S. 2 ; Hemmings, C. Andrew 2 ; Langworthy, Kurt A. 3 ; West, Allen 4 ; LeCompte, Malcolm A. 5 ; Adedeji, Victor 6 ; Kennett, James P. 7 ; Feathers, James K. 8 

 University of South Carolina, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, New Ellenton, USA (GRID:grid.254567.7) (ISNI:0000 0000 9075 106X) 
 Aucilla Research Institute Inc., Monticello, USA (GRID:grid.254567.7) 
 University of Oregon, CAMCOR, Eugene, USA (GRID:grid.170202.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 8008) 
 Comet Research Group, Prescott, USA (GRID:grid.170202.6) 
 Elizabeth City State University, Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research, Elizabeth City, USA (GRID:grid.255485.b) (ISNI:0000 0000 9882 2176) 
 Elizabeth City State University, Department of Natural Sciences, Elizabeth City, USA (GRID:grid.255485.b) (ISNI:0000 0000 9882 2176) 
 University of California, Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, Santa Barbara, USA (GRID:grid.133342.4) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9676) 
 University of Washington, Luminescence Dating Laboratory, Seattle, USA (GRID:grid.34477.33) (ISNI:0000 0001 2298 6657) 
Pages
22738
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2904032445
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2023. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.