Micromorphology of periglacial sediments from the Tayara site, Qikirtaq Island, Nunavik (Canada)

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
In this study, micromorphology was used to answer questions concerning the composition, structure, origin and depositional agencies of the Tayara site active layer's sediments as well as to distinguish between natural (geogenic, biopedogenic) and cultural (anthropogenic) processes. Five groups of microfeatures were documented : 1) biopedological features (soil organic matter accumulation, mesofaunal and fungal activities), 2) transport-inherited features related to depositional processes (solifluction and stream sedimentation), 3) frost-induced microstructures and cryogenic features such as major post-depositional changes (ice-segregation, particle rearrangement, frost shattering, cryoturbation), 4) bone preservation in the active layer at the microscopic level, and 5) anthropogenic features related to Palaeoeskimo activities. The sediments from the 3 archaeological levels appear to have been very little influenced by anthropogenic factors. The effects of natural processes on the sediments are more pronounced than anthropogenic ones.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2008, vol. 76, n°. 1, p. 1-21, nombre de pages : 21, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena