Radiocarbon dates from Anthony Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, and their geological and archaeological significance

Abstract

Seven samples of peat or wood were collected from four small sedimentary basins on Anthony Island. Elevations of these sites range between 31.1 and 2.5 m above mean sea level. Radiocarbon dates from these indicate that sea level has not exceeded 31.1 m since 12 300 years ago. Furthermore, sea level has been less than 12.7 m above mean sea level since about 4000 BP and has declined at about 2.5 m/1000 years. A well-defined scarp with relict surge channels and sea caves may define the postglacial mean sea-level maximum at about 12–15 m. A date of 1750 ± 120 BP at the base of a pond is particularly significant, since it places a maximum possible age on the Skung-gwai village site (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and other known archaeological sites near present sea level.