Giant Beaver Research Articles

Hypertension screening by allied health professionals: Linda Reed, Shawnee Health Service and Development Corporation, 103 South Washington, Carbondale, Illinois 62901; Ira J. Bates; Judith Luebke; Max Webel

AMS14C ages of 10 bones of the caribou (Rangifer tarandus), flat-headed peccary (Platygonus compressus), and giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) from the Dutchess Quarry Caves, New York, range from 13,840 ± 80 to 11,670 ± 70 yr B.P. No bones from any of these species are demonstrably associated with Paleoindian artifacts (fluted points) or other cultural materials from the sites because the bones lack unequivocal stratigraphic association with artifacts, as well as physical (taphonomic) evidence for human association (e.g., burning, cut marks, distinctive breakage). Together with the Holocene conventional14C dates of charcoal and the varied stratigraphic proveniences of the fluted points and the dated bones, the new AMS14C dates argue that most strata at the Dutchess Quarry Caves contain a mixture of late Pleistocene and Holocene materials. This mixing probably resulted from post-depositional bioturbation (by humans, rodents, carnivores, and scavengers) and cryoturbation (annual freeze–thaw cycles). Rather than being of cultural origin, the bones of caribou, flat-headed peccary, and giant beaver likely were deposited in the Dutchess Quarry Caves by nonhuman predators or scavengers, such as ursids, canids, felids, condors, or eagles.

The dutchess county hypertension treatment center: Stephen R. Redmond, Rockland County Health Department, Pomona, New York; Anthony Tardio; Mary Higgins

AMS14C ages of 10 bones of the caribou (Rangifer tarandus), flat-headed peccary (Platygonus compressus), and giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) from the Dutchess Quarry Caves, New York, range from 13,840 ± 80 to 11,670 ± 70 yr B.P. No bones from any of these species are demonstrably associated with Paleoindian artifacts (fluted points) or other cultural materials from the sites because the bones lack unequivocal stratigraphic association with artifacts, as well as physical (taphonomic) evidence for human association (e.g., burning, cut marks, distinctive breakage). Together with the Holocene conventional14C dates of charcoal and the varied stratigraphic proveniences of the fluted points and the dated bones, the new AMS14C dates argue that most strata at the Dutchess Quarry Caves contain a mixture of late Pleistocene and Holocene materials. This mixing probably resulted from post-depositional bioturbation (by humans, rodents, carnivores, and scavengers) and cryoturbation (annual freeze–thaw cycles). Rather than being of cultural origin, the bones of caribou, flat-headed peccary, and giant beaver likely were deposited in the Dutchess Quarry Caves by nonhuman predators or scavengers, such as ursids, canids, felids, condors, or eagles.

Late Pleistocene Palynology and Biogeography of the Western Missouri Ozarks

Palynological investigations of spring deposits were conducted as part of an interdisciplinary research effort into late Pleistocene archaeology, geology, and paleoecology of the western Missouri Ozarks. The springs, located in the Pomme de Terre River valley in Benton and Hickory Counties, Missouri, lie 400 km south of the maximum extent of the Wisconsin ice sheet on the present Great Plains—Eastern Deciduous Forest border. The valley will soon be flooded by a government impoundment. Two springs were completely excavated and three others sampled, including a spring originally excavated by Albert Koch in 1840. The pollen record, with associated plant macrofossils, is divided into three distinct zones: a lower nonarboreal pollen (NAP) and pine zone, a middle spruce— (Picea) dominated zone, and an upper zone of spruce with deciduous elements. Radiocarbon dates show that the NAP—pine zone was established prior to 40,000 BP and existed until 20,000—25,000 BP; it was deposited during the mid—Wisconsin interstade. The mid—Wisconsin interstadial vegetation of the Ozarks is interpreted as an open pine—parkland. Plant macrofossils of Pinus banksiana in this zone indicate that jack pine was present. Spruce was probably absent as no spruce macrofossils and only traces of spruce pollen were found. The associated mid—Wisconsin fauna is dominated by mastodon (Mammut americanum) with horse (Equus) and musk—ox (Symbos). With the onset of late Wisconsin full—glacial conditions, variously dated at 20,000—25,000 BP, pollen dominance shifts from NAP—pine to spruce. This is interpreted as the replacement of the pine—parkland by boreal spruce forest. Two pollen zones are apparent within the full—glacial: an older zone with up to 92% spruce pollen occurring after the transition from NAP—pine to spruce, and a younger zone with less spruce (38%) and more thermophilous deciduous tree pollen. The change to less spruce and more deciduous tree pollen apparently reflects slightly improved climatic conditions during a late phase of the full—glacial; the zone is radiocarbon dated at 16,500 BP on spruce logs. It contains abundant spruce and larch (Larix) macrofossils associated with the remains of at least 30 mastodons plus giant beaver (Castoroides), ground sloth (Paramylodon), tapir (Tapirus), deer (Odocoileus), and horse (Equus). The western Missouri Ozarks were covered by open pine—parkland from at least 40,000 BP until the start of the full—glacial 20,000—25,000 BP, then boreal spruce forest until at least 13,500 BP. Deciduous elements became more prominent in the spruce forest in its latter phase. The present oak—hickory forest developed after the decline of the spruce and is thus no older than postglacial.

The Giant Beaver: A Prehistoric Memory?

An examination of the giant beaver tale among various northeastern Algonkian tribes (such as the Montagnais, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac and Malecite) and a study of the nature and distribution of the Pleistocene giant beaver, Castoroides ohioensis, lead to the tentative conclusion that elements in these tales represent a kind of fossil memory of this long-extinct rodent. When it can be established that a folktale is anchored in fact it may very Well be as revealing about a people's past as any archaeological discovery. Not only does it retain the memory of an actual occurrence but it may better illuminate cultural attitudes than would be possible through an archaeological find. The problem, of course, is to determine the facts that lie behind the shape of the tale in its oral form. With this in mind, I would like to discuss the giant beaver tale of the Northeastern Algonkian as a possible prehistoric memory holding a key for archaeologists and historians alike. The tale of the giant beaver is usually related as an episode in the Gluskap cycle, Gluskap being the culture hero and transformer of most of the tribes of the Northeast. As Frank Speck tells us, he is also a trickster.

Giant Beaver from a Post-Woodfordian Lake near Madison, Wisconsin

Giant Beaver from a Post-Woodfordian Lake near Madison, Wisconsin

An Additional Record of the Giant Beaver

Journal Article An Additional Record of the Giant Beaver Get access Albebt Elmeb Wood Albebt Elmeb Wood Cape May Court House, New Jersey Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 17, Issue 4, 14 November 1936, Page 420, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/17.4.420 Published: 14 November 1936

Auditory Ossicles of Living and Giant Beavers

Auditory Ossicles of Living and Giant Beavers