The sediments on the ridge are primarily eolian silts, overlying glacial outwash. The samples were recovered from the top three to five centimeters of excavation within the A horizon. This sediment layer is a brown silt, interpreted as eolian based on the uniformity of grain size and lack of gravels, with a heavy organic component. The A horizon ranges from one to five centimeters thick, and conformably overlies a modern B horizon which is currently undergoing pedogenic processes. The tephra did not form a discreet, continuous bed at this site. Rather, it was found in pockets between one-half and three centimeters thick throughout the A horizon. Pockets varied in size from a few centimeters to ten or twelve centimeters in diameter. Samples were collected from larger, more distinct pockets. The three samples were recovered from three different excavation units, with the largest pockets located at the western end of the excavation near the top of the south-facing slope.
Age (min)
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Age (max)
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Age Description
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Geological Age
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Geological Unit
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Sample Size
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Purpose
Archaeology and Paleoenvironment
Field
Value
Latitude
62.581
Longitude
-143.704
Latitude End
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Longitude End
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Easting
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Northing
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UTM Zone
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Vertical Datum
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Depth (min)
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Depth (max)
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Depth Scale
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Elevation
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Elevation End
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Navigation Type/Location Method
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Locality
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Locality Description
Excavated
Location Description
These samples were recovered from the Natael Na site in southcentral Alaska. This is in the northern Copper River basin, within the northern unit of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve. The site is located on a low but well-drained loess ridge, believed to have formed over a durable bedrock outcrop. It is adjacent to an interpreted paleo-delta where Tanada Creek entered Glacial Lake Ahtna, which is believed to have persisted until roughly 10,000 cal BP.
The top of the landform, including the area the samples were recovered from is at an elevation of roughly 780 meters above sea level. The area is currently a cool, wet boreal forest dominated by white spruce, though birch and aspen are also present at the site. Dwarf birch is common in the surrounding understory and willow is present, though primarily in the low areas surrounding the ridge. The ridgetop where the site is located is covered primarily with Labrador Tea, though some low-bush cranberry is present on the south-facing slope. Other vegetation present in the site area includes bog blueberry, crowberry, kinnikinic, bear berry, artic lupin, and timberberry.
