Younger Dryas “black mats” and the Rancholabrean termination in North America

Haynes. 10.1073/pnas.0800560105

Supporting Information

Files in this Data Supplement:

SI Table 2
SI Table 3
SI Figure 6
SI Figure 7
SI Figure 8
SI Figure 9
SI Figure 10
SI References

Fig. 6. Black mats of Younger Dryas age (locality nos. refer to Fig. 1 and SI Table 2). Photographs are by the author unless indicated otherwise. (a) The black mat at the Murray Springs Clovis site in Arizona (locality 1a) is a black algal mat that blankets the Clovis occupation surface. (b) At the Naco Clovis site (locality 1b) the mammoth bones and artifacts are directly overlain by laminated marls and clay bands that are pond facies of the San Pedro Valley black mat. (c) The type Clovis site in Blackwater Draw, New Mexico (locality 5) has a dark-gray diatomite stratum D containing Folsom artifacts and bones of Bison bison antiquus overlying a "brown sand wedge" (stratum C) with Clovis artifacts and mammoth bones over a "gray sand" (stratum B) with Clovis artifacts and bones of mammoth and B. bison antiquus beyond where stratum C pinches out. Photograph courtesy of Glen L. Evans. (d) At the Lubbock Lake site in Texas (locality 6) a black and white diatomite (stratum 2A) (2d in SI-8) contains Folsom artifacts and bones of extinct bison and directly overlies a gray fluvial sand (stratum 1B). Photograph courtesy of Vance T. Holliday. (e) Folsom, Goshen-Plainview, and Agate Basin artifacts are found in situ in the lower portions of the Leonard paleosol at several sites in the Knife River - Lake Ilo region of North Dakota (locality 7). Photograph by Stanley A. Ahler. Published courtesy of the Center for the Study of the First Americans. (f) The Lindenmeier Folsom site in Colorado (locality 8) has Folson artifacts and bison bones covered by a black cumulic mollisol overlying Peoria loess.

Fig. 7. Black mats of Younger Dryas age (Locality numbers refer to Fig. 1 and SI Table 2). Photographs are by the author unless indicated otherwise. (a) The Goshen paleosol at the Hell Gap site (locality 9) is a cumulic mollisol as seen here and an aquall in lower elevations. (b) At the Agate Basin site (locality 10a) multiple black bands are separated by slope wash alluvium. (c) Dennis Stanford (on left) and Adrian Hannus examine a Clovis point in situ on an erosion surface covered by a cumuli mollisol of YD age at the Lange-Ferguson site (locality 12). Note truncation of the mollisol on the right. (d) The Domebo mammoth skeleton (locality 13) is buried by dark gray organic clayey sand. Photograph courtesy of Frank C. Leonhardy. (e)The Clovis occupation surface at the Aubrey site locality 14) is overlain by a facies of the lacustrine organic clay and marl. Photograph courtesy of C. Reid Ferring.(f) At the Feterman mammoth site (locality 15) a black cumulic mollisol of probable YD age overlies mammoth bones on older terrace alluvium.

Fig. 8. Black mats of Younger Dryas age (locality numbers refer to Fig. 1 and SI Table 2). Photographs are by the author unless indicated otherwise. (a) At the Carter/Kerr-McGee site (locality 16) a black aquoll overlies an erosional surface and contains Goshen and Folsom artifacts in its basal portion. (b) The black cumulic mollisol at the Jim Pitts site (locality 17a) contains Goshen, Folsom, and Agate Basin artifacts and overlies a surface with preYD charcoal that is apparently not cultural. (c) Dissection of Gilcrease Spring mound (locality 19b) revealed a black peat of YD age. Figures in the background are excavating mammoth tusks in the stratum directly under the peat. (d) Black peaty lens of "Black Mat 1" of YD age on the Kaibito Plateau (locality 37) represents one of several localized wet land relicts. (e) At the Wilson-Leonard site (locality 27) a dark gray cienega soil of YD age underlies the Leanne paleosol shown here and overlies what is believed to be a Clovis horizon. Photograph courtesy of Vance T. Holliday. (f) At the Indian Creek site (locality 29) multiple black organic stringers of YD age contain Folsom artifacts upstream and overlie a Clovis horizon above Glacier Peak tephra downstream. Leslie Davis, the principal investigator, provides scale at the Clovis locality.

Fig. 9. Black mats of Younger Dryas age (locality numbers refer to Fig. 1 and SI Table 2). Photographs by the author unless indicated otherwise. (a) The Arlington Springs site on Santa Rosa Island (locality 30) contains the oldest human skeletal remains in North America. Human bones occur near the bottom of a channel, to the right of the menu board, and below a lens containing bones of an extinct large mouse (Peromyscus nesodytes). The overlying black layers are of YD age. Photograph courtesy of G. James West. (b) Clovis artifacts at the Arc site (locality 31a) near Lake Erie occur at the base of the black peaty layer of YD age and on a late glacial diamicton. Photograph by Kenneth Tankersley. Published courtesy of the Center for the Study of the First Americans. (c) At the Frazier site (locality 23a) Agate Basin artifacts occurred at the base of a black cumulic mollisol of YD age. The pick rests on the top of the mollisol. (d) A Cody-complex bone bed at the Jurgens site (locality 23b) occurred both on and in a black cumulic mollisol of YD age. (e) At Lamb Spring (locality 38) YD strata included the channel fill at lower left and the overlying dark gray strata. (f) A dark brown to black mollisol of YD age at the Flaming Arrow site (locality 40a) is highly bioturbated.

Fig. 10. Black mats of Younger Dryas age (locality nos. refer to Fig. 1 and SI Table 2). Photographs are by the author unless indicated otherwise. (a) Pleistocene terrace gravels in the Streifel gravel pit (locality 40b) north of Bismarck, North Dakota, are overlain by loess with the Leonard Paleosol on top. (b) Sheep Mountain Table, South Dakota (locality 41), is a large mesa capped by the Oahe Formation with the black Leonard Paleosol at the base. (c) A waste pit of the Apache Power plant on the west edge of Wilcox Playa, Arizona (locality 42) exposed a YD black mat over storm beach deposits of Pluvial Lake Cochise of late Pleistocene age. (d) The Sunshine Paleoindian site in Nevada (locality 44) contains a black paleosol of YD Age. Photograph courtesy of George T. Jones. (e) The Nall site (locality 48) in the Oklahoma panhandle produced many Paleoindian artifacts during the 1930s dust bowl years. The lower dark gray paleosol of YD age is the Nall paleosol and underlies the Baker paleosol. Photograph courtesy of Vance T. Holliday. (f.) At the JB Spring site, East Rainey Butte (locality 49), several YD black mats are separated by colluvium shed from an adjacent sandstone cliff.

Table 2. Localities with black sediments of Younger Dryas age

Map No.*

Site No.

Locality†

YD stratum β_2a

¹⁴C age, yrs B.P.^§

Z_1-2 contact and/or Clovis stratum

Ref.

Archaeology

Extinct fauna

¹⁴C age, yrs BP^§

Murray Springs site, AZ

SI Fig. 6a

(1)

Black organic clay =

Stratum F₂ , 9700 to 10,700

(A)††

Clovis

Mammoth

Bison

Horse

Dire wolf

American Lion

10,885 ± 50

(av. of 8)

Escapule site, AZ

(1)

Black organic clay =

Stratum F₂ , same age as at Murray Springs

(F)

Clovis

Mammoth

None

S-1

Schaldack Mammoth, AZ

(1)

Black organic clay =

Stratum F₂ , same age as at Murray Springs

(F)

None

Mammoth

Horse

None

Donnet Mammoth, AZ

(1)

Black organic clay =

Stratum F₂ , same age as at Murray Springs

(F)

None

Mammoth

10,530±520

BLM V-005

Mammoth, AZ

(1)

Black organic clay =

Stratum F_2, same age as at Murray Springs

(F)

None

Mammoth

None

Lehner site, AZ

(1)

Black organic clay =

Stratum F₂ 9700 to 10,700

(A)

Clovis

Mammoth

Bison

Horse

Camel

Tapir

10,950±40

(av. of 12)

S-2

S-3

Naco site, AZ

SI Fig. 6b

(1)

Muddy marl facies

Stratum F_2b, with solid carbon age of 9250 ± 300 (A-9 & A-10)

(E)

Clovis

Mammoth

8980 ± 270 (A-195), inaccurate bone date (unpublished)

S-4

Leikem site, AZ

(1)

Dark gray mud =

Stratum F₂

(F)

Clovis ?

Mammoth

None

S-5

Navarrete site, AZ

(1)

Brownish gray mud =

Stratum F₂

(F)

Clovis ?

Mammoth

None

S-6

Red Peak Valley, AZ

(1)

Cumulic mollisol =

Stratum β_2,

9660 ± 150,

10,510 ± 510

(A)

None

S-7

Clovis site, Blackwater Draw, NM

SI Fig. 6c

(1 & 5)

Diatomite = Strata D & E, 9600 to 10,740

(A)

Clovis in B₃ and C below Folsom and Agate Basin in D

Mammoth

Bison

Horse

New date of

10,914 ± 72 (AA-30454) on carbonized plants in Stratum B₃

Lubbock Lake site, TX

SI Fig. 6d

(1)

Diatomaceous marsh deposits = Stratum 2A, 16 dates between 9720 ± 80 and 10,530 ± 90 on humates, 10,540 ± 100 on charcoal

(A)

Clovis (?) under

Folsom in Stratum 1B

Mammoth

Bison

Horse

Camel

Short-faced Bear

Giant Armadillo

11,100 ± 100 and

11,100 ± 80 both on wood

S-8

S-9

Lake Ilo Basin, Knife River area, ND

SI Fig. 6e

(1)

Leonard paleosol,

>18 dates between 7000 and 13,000, mostly on humates, but 9700 to 11,000 believed to be most accurate

(C)

Folsom, Goshen, and Agate Basin above basal contact

Bison with Folsom and Agate Basin occupations

15,220 ± 130 below

Leonard paleosol

S-10

Lindenmeier site, CO

SI Fig. 6f

(1 & 2)

Cumulic mollisol =

Lower stratum D, 9460 ± 180 for top to

10,600 ± 60 (av. of 3) for Folsom occupation at base

(B)

Folsom in lower stratum D

Bison in D

New date for stratum B, top of Peoria loess =

12,170 ±8 0 (AA-51988)

S-11

Hell Gap site, WY

SI Fig. 7a

(1 & 4)

Cumulic mollisol =

Lower Stratum E, 40 dates between 8630 and 11,250 for post Z_1-2 occupation

(B)

Folsom, Goshen,

Agate Basin, Hell Gap above basal contact

Bison

6 samples between

10,878 and 12,170 for base of E contact

S-12

10a

Agate Basin site, WY

SI Fig. 7b

(1 & 4)

Multibanded aquoll =

Stratum B, 13 samples dated 9350 to 10,780

(B)

Folsom, Agate Basin, and Hell Gap above basal contact

Bison

None

S-13

10b

Sheaman site, WY

(1 & 2)

Haplaquoll =

Stratum B, 13 samples dated 9086 to 11,810. Antler or bone foreshaft = 10,305 ± 15 av. of 3

(C)

Clovis (?) on basal contact, unidentified occupation above

Bison

11,224 ± 50 (av. of 3)

S-14

Medicine Creek area, NE

(1)

Paleosol YY = Brady Paleosol with > 7 samples between 9120 and 10,850

(B)

Plainview and

Paleosol YY

Bison

Between

10,850 ± 670 and 13,720 ± 530

S-15

Lange/Ferguson site, SD

SI Fig. 7c

(1 & 6)

Cumulic mollisol =

Stratum D with basal date of 10,670 ± 300

(B)

Clovis in stratum C and on D/B contact = Z_1-2

Mammoth in Stratum C with 2 bone dates of 10,710 ± 130

11,110 ± 40

Stratum C with 3 dates, average = 11,080 ± 40

S-16

Domebo site, OK

SI Fig. 7d

(1)

Dark gray organic clayey sand = Strata C₁ and C₂ with dates between 10,123 ± 280 and 11,090 ± 110

(D)

Clovis in Stratum C₂ on C₂/C₃ contact

= Z_1-2

Mammoth in Stratum C₂ with three AMS bone dates averaging 11,040 ± 255

Stratum C₃ below Mammoth dates 12,350 ± 100 (AA-13026)

S-17

S-18

Aubrey site, TX

SI Fig. 7e

(1)

Strata E & G with 4 dates from 10,084 ± 80 to 10,937 ± 80

(B)

Clovis on G/A₂ and E₁/D contact = Z_1-2

Bison

Mammoth

Ground sloth

2 charcoal dates

av. 11,570 ± 70

S-19

Feterman Mammoth, WY

SI Fig. 7f

(2)

Cumulic mollisol

(F)

Flaked tool and several flakes in questionable association

Mammoth

None

S-20

S-21

Carter-Kerr-McGee site, WY

SI Fig. 8a

(1)

Argiaquoll over Haplaquoll and 10,400 ± 600

on Goshen age bison

bone

(E)

Goshen, Folsom,

Agate Basin,

Hell Gap, Cody in Aquolls

Bison

Camel

Stratum 3/Stratum 2

contacted not dated

S-22

S-23

17a

Jim Pitts site, SD

SI Fig. 8b

(2)

Leonard paleosol = Stratum II with 7 dates of 9855 to 10,280 on basal Level 9

(C)

Goshen, Folsom, Agate Basin and Cody in paleosol

Bison

11,597 ± 200 av. of 2

S-24

17b

Sewright site, ND

(1)

Leonard paleosol with 5 dates from 9890 ± 60 to 10,850 ± 40 with inversions

(A)

Goshen-Plainview base in 2Akb above Leonard paleosol in T-2 terrace

Bison

>10,320 ± 70

S-25

Trout Creek site, CO

(1)

Cumulic mollisol with

date of 10,600

(E)

Folsom in

mollisol

Bison

None

S-26

19a

Southern Great Basin, NV

(1, 2 & 5)

Wet meadows, springs, and shallow ponds

17 dates between 8400 and 11,760. YD age dominates

(C)

None reported

Rancholabrean

11,800 ± 180 at

Corn Creek Flat

19b

Gilcrease Spring

Mound, NV

SI Fig. 8c

(5)

Black peat dates 9920 ± 150 at top and 10,810 ± 460 at base

(A)

None

Mammoth

<12,100 ± 200

S-27

Black Mountain site, CO

(2)

Cumulic mollisol with charcoal date of 10,631 ± 84

(E)

Folsom in mollisol

None

S-28

Elgin mammoth, AZ

(1)

Cumulic mollisol

(F)

None

Mammoth below mollisol

None

S-29

Pounds Playa, NM

(6)

Mollic aquoll with basal dates of 9623 ± 87 (AA-66775L) and 11,690 ± 73

(AA-66775H)

(E)

None

S-30

23a

Frazier site, CO

SI Fig. 9c

(2)

Mollic aquoll with date of 9600 ± 130 (av. of 2)

(E)

Agate Basin in

Aquoll

Bison

None

S-31

S-32

23b

Jurgens site, CO

SI Fig. 9d

(2)

Mollic aquoll with date of 9070 ± 90

(E)

Cody in aquoll

Bison

None

S-31

24a

Jones-Miller site, CO

(2)

Hell Gap artifacts with date of

10,020 ± 320 in Argialboll

(E)

Hell Gap

Bison

None

S-33

24b

Dutton site, CO

(2)

Argialboll over older

Argialboll

(F)

Clovis on Z_1-2 surface on lower argialboll

Mammoth of questionable association with Clovis

Mammoth bone date of 11,710 ± 150

S-34

Bram's site, SD

(1)

Leonard paleosol with 7 basal bulk soil dates from 8570 ± 90 to 11,670 ± 120

(C)

None in the Leonard paleosol

None

> 11,670 unless contamination or bioturbation involved

S-35

Huntington Canyon , UT

(6)

Dark grayish-brown

lacustrine clayey silt with 4 dates from 8430 to 10,020 over peat with mammoth

(B)

None in clear association

Mammoth and short faced bear on marsh peat between two lacustrine strata

4 dates between 11,020 and 12,340 on mammoth fecal material and bone

S-36

Wilson-Leonard site, TX

SI Fig. 8e

(1)

Stratum I = cienega deposit (lcl) overlain by Leanne paleosol (lsi) Stratum I dates 9500 to 11,400

(C)

Clovis (?) overlain by nondiagnostic artifacts

Not identifiable

11,500

S-37

Cow Catcher locality, ND

(1)

Leonard paleosol with bulk soil date of 11,130 ± 80 on basal 10 cm

(E)

None in the Leonard paleosol

None

Indian Creek site, MT

SI Fig. 8f

(1)

Black organic streaks in alluvium over Glacier Peak tephra dated 11,125 ± 130

(A)

Folsom at 10,410 ± 60 stratigraphically over Clovis at 10,980 ± 110 downstream

Bison

Z_1-2 contact between 10,980 ± 110 and ash dated 11,125 ± 130

S-38

Arlington Springs site, Santa Rosa Island, CA

SI Fig. 9a

(1)

"Black Band," above human bone, with 2 dates of 10,315 ± 40 and 10,725 ± 40 in stratigraphic order

(A)

Human skeleton with bone date of 10,960 ± 80

Peromyscus

nesodytes

Contact Z₁ between 10,725 ± 40 and 11,250 ± 40

S-39

31a

Arc site, NY

SI Fig. 9b

(1)

Black peat with basal date of 10,370 ± 108 (av. of 2) on wood

(E)

Clovis or Gainey in silt under peat and over diamicton

None

11,700 ± 110 on Z_1-2

pre-Clovis surface

S-40

31b

Hiscock site, NY

(5)

Upper Fibrous Gravelly Clay (FGC) dated 9250 to 9475 over lower FGC dated 10,200 to 11,450

(C)

Clovis in bioturbated Fibrous Gravelly clay

Disarticulated mastodon bones in bioturbated FGC

FGC/ till contact about 11,450

S-41

Sisters Hill site, WY

(1)

Aquoll with black carbaceous bands = stratum C dated 9550 ± 130 and 9650 ± 130

(E)

Hell Gap in Stratum C

None

Erosional surface on Ucross Formation = Z_1-2

S-42

Richard Beene site, TX

(1)

Perez paleosol with 4 dates from 9780 to 10,780

(A)

Late Paleoindian above paleosol

None

13,480 ± 360

below Perez

paleosol

S-43

Thunderbird site, VA

(1)

"Clovis" clay on buried terrace

(F)

Post Clovis, fluted points on "Clovis" clay

None

S-44

Chapo Ranch, AZ

(1 & 5)

Mollisol = Stratum F₂

with dates of 9580 ± 170 (AA-53781), 10,516 ± 75 (AA-52885) and 10,696 ± 57 (AA-52886) overlies Strata E₁ and E₂

(B)

None

Mastodon in Stratum E₂ marl below Stratum F₂

12,750 ± 460

(A-1786) on Stratum E₁ below E₂

S-45

South Whitlock site, SD

(1)

Leonard paleosol with bulk soil dates of 5590 ± 60 and 9190 ± 90 over 11,860 ± 60 on charcoal

(C)

None reported

Bison

> 11,670 unless bioturbation involved

Kaibito Plateau, AZ

SI Fig. 8d

(6)

Black mats = cienega soils in depressions with dates from

~ 8000 to ~ 11,000

(B)

Paleoindian surface finds include Clovis points

None

S-46

Lamb Spring, CO

SI Fig. 9e

(5)

Mollic cienega paleosol with date at 9330 ± 50 over channel fill with 6 dates from 10,810 ± 60 to 11,080 ± 50

(C)

Cody above Clovis-age cienega channel

but no Clovis

artifacts

Mammoth

11,260 ± 60 at base of channel

S-47

Roosevelt National Park, Little Missouri Badlands, ND

(3)

Leonard paleosol with 7 dates from 8800 ± 77 (AA-49044) to 11,135 ± 61 (AA-45980)

(C)

None

S-48

40a

Flaming Arrow site, ND

SI Fig. 9f

(2)

Leonard paleosol with 4 dates from 9588 ± 53 (AA-49048) to 11,860 ± 270 (AA-53770)

(C)

None

11,860 ± 270

S-49

S-50

40b

Streifel Gravel Pit, ND

SI Fig. 10a

(3)

Leonard paleosol with 4 dates from 8300 ± 150 (AA-56335) to 11,400 ± 120 (AA-53762)

(C)

Cody above paleosol

None

11,400 ± 120

S-50

Sheep Mountain Table, Badlands National Park, SD

SI Fig. 10b

(3)

Mollic paleosol = Stratum 2 with 8255 ± 70 near top and 12,010 ± 80 near Base

(C)

None

S-51

S-52

Wilcox Playa, AZ

SI Fig. 10c

(6)

Mollic paleosol = Stratum C with bulk sediment date of 8910 ± 280 = minimum age

(E)

None

Mammoth in Stratum B₅

12,970 ± 480 in Stratum B₃ below

mammoth

S-53

MacHaffe site, MT

(1)

"Black soil" with 2 dates from 10,090±50 to 10,390±40

(A)

Folsom in "black soil," Cody above it

Bison

None

S-54

Sunshine site, NV

SI Fig. 10d

(6)

Dark brown marsh deposit = Stratum C with 4 dates from 9800 to 10,000

(A)

Fluted point in Stratum E below Strata C and D

Camel in Stratum E

Between 10,340 ± 60

and 11,390 ± 60

S-55

Vermillion Lakes Site, Alberta, Canada

(4)

Multiple black layers with numerous dates from 9500 to 10,500

(B)

Agate Basin