Canadian Arctic Archipelago Paleoenvironments: Beaufort Sea Bowhead Whale History Component

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

étiquettes: fossils, sea ice, archaeology, ice cover, paleogeology, bowhead whales, post-glacial history

chercheur principal: Dyke, Arthur S. (4)
Nᵒ de permis: 12980
Organisation: Natural Resources Canada
Année(s) de permis: 1998
Délivré: juin 26, 1998
Équipe de projet: J. Savelle

Objectif(s): The objective of the work in western Victoria Island is to start establishing a postglacial history for the Beaufort Sea bowhead whale. We have done this very successfully for the Baffin Bay bowhead whale. This is a study of geological fossils, not of living whales, nor of bones at archaeological sites. This information will be used to find out how much sea ice cover has changed through time.

Description du projet: The objective of the work in western Victoria Island is to start establishing a postglacial history for the Beaufort Sea bowhead whale. We have done this very successfully for the Baffin Bay bowhead whale. This is a study of geological fossils, not of living whales, nor of bones at archaeological sites. This information will be used to find out how much sea ice cover has changed through time. A 2 man tent camp will be established upon arriving at the site(s) by twin otter aircraft. An area of about 20 km in radius will be searched no foot and using four-wheel all-terrain vehicles. We look mainly in the gravel of raised beaches for these fossils and will take small samples of bone (usually ear bones) for radiocarbon dating to determine how hold the fossil's are. Also collect samples of marine shell fossils (clams) and small pieces of driftwood.. This summer's work is preliminary to assess what the potential might be.