Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Tags: fossils, sea ice, archaeology, ice cover, paleogeology, bowhead whales, post-glacial history
| Principal Investigator: | Dyke, Arthur S. (4) |
| Licence Number: | 12980 |
| Organization: | Natural Resources Canada |
| Licensed Year(s): |
1998
|
| Issued: | Jun 26, 1998 |
| Project Team: | J. Savelle |
Objective(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.
Project Description: 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.
