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wemust establish that there is a distinctive Scottish IRD component. Singlegrain analysis of detrital minerals provides a powerful method to constrainsediment source regions. Although various minerals could be used, wefocus on zircon and rutile. The establishment of this approach as a viablemeans of investigating IRD provenance will provide additional means ofinvestigating ice sheet-climate interactions where no onshore evidence ofice sheet behaviour exists.

A COMPARISON OF MULTIPLE METHODS USED TO RECONSTRUCTCLIMATE FIELDS DURING THE COMMON ERA

Jason Smerdon. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia Unive,United StatesE-mail address: jsmerdon@ldeo.columbia.edu

Paleoclimatic reconstructions of hemispheric and global surface temper-atures during the last millennium vary significantly in their estimates ofdecadal-to-centennial variability. Although several estimates are based onspatially-resolved climate field reconstruction (CFR) methods, compari-sons have been limited to mean Northern Hemisphere temperatures.Spatial skill is explicitly investigated for multiple CFR methods usingpseudoproxy experiments (PPEs) derived from two millennial-lengthcoupled Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model (AOGCM) simula-tions. The adopted pseudoproxy network approximates the spatial distri-bution of a widely used multi-proxy network and the CFRs target annualtemperature variability on a 5-degree latitude-longitude grid. Resultsindicate that the spatial skill of presently available large-scale CFRsdepends on proxy type and location, target data, and the employedreconstruction methodology, although there are general similarities in theperformance of all four methods. While results are somewhat sensitive tothe ability of the AOGCMs to resolve ENSO and its teleconnections,important areas such as the ocean basins and much of the SouthernHemisphere are reconstructed with particularly poor skill in PPEs withboth models.

A REMARKABLE LATE QUATERNARY NEOTECTONIC FEATURE ON THEISLE OF RAASAY, SCOTLAND, UK

David Smith. Oxford University, United KingdomE-mail address: david.smith@ouce.ox.ac.uk

The Isle of Raasay lies in the Inner Hebrides, western Scotland. The geologyof the island is notable for several NE-SW trending faults, one of which ismarked by a cliff, up to 100m high, with a detatched screed at its foot. Thedetatched scree forms a ridge, up to 7m high, which runs for 1.2km alongthe fault and comprises about 90,000 cubic metres of frost-shattered rock.The ridge is believed to have been formed by episodes of movement alonga listric fault ,which included landsliding, during and after the YoungerDryas, perhaps associated with the growth and decay of the Younger DryasIce Cap on nearby Skye. Detailed studies of the morphology and sedimentsof a former lake which existed along the foot of the ridge are described.Radiocarbon dating indicates that the lake drained at about 10,000 cal. BP.Drainage was catastrophic, with about 8 million cubic metres of waterdischarged in a short time. The cause of the drainage is examined.

THE EARLY HOLOCENE SEA LEVEL RISE: AN EPISODE OF MAJORENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

David Smith. Oxford University, United KingdomE-mail address: david.smith@ouce.ox.ac.uk

During the early Holocene, 11,700 - 7,000 cal. BP, the volume of the oceansincreased rapidly and the mean global sea surface rose by up to 60m at anaverage rate of 12mm/year. After about 7,000 BP a sharp change took placeand the overall rise was an order of magnitude less. The early Holocene sealevel rise is arguably the most striking element of the rise in sea levelsduring the Last Glacial Termination, a rise which has been described as themost important geological event of recent time. This paper examines theconsequences of the early Holocene sea level rise, and illustrations will begiven from several areas. It will be maintained that it had a profound effect

on tidewater ice sheets and glaciers; was instrumental in causing the 8200cooling event; affected the patterns of ocean currents, thereby affectingregional climate; may have influenced volcanic activity; and probablyinfluenced submarine mass movements, perhaps increasing tsunamiactivity. It will be maintained that the early Holocene sea level rise was notonly a consequence of climate change, but also communicated climatechange globally.

THE PACE OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION: ECOLOGICAL ANDMORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF MAMMALS TO CLIMATE CHANGE ATANNUAL TO MILLENNIAL TIME SCALES

Felisa Smith. University of New Mexico, United StatesE-mail address: fasmith@unm.edu

Arguably the most pressing environmental issue facing society today isthat of anthropogenic climate change. With the increasing availability offine-scale paleoclimate data has come an appreciation for the rapidity andfrequency of past shifts in the earth climate system. Yet, the magnitude,timing and nature of biotic responses to such changes remain unclear.Here, we examine the response of small mammals to late Quaternaryclimate shifts at a variety of temporal scales. We focus on Neotoma(woodrats), a taxa with perhaps the best-resolved paleorecord of the lateQuaternary. Neotoma construct middens, or debris piles, which are ubiq-uitous in the western United States and which under appropriate envi-ronmental conditions are preserved for thousands of years. Paleomiddensyield information on morphology, genetics and diet and allow the inves-tigation of responses to climate change over a variety of temporal andspatial scales. We integrate this historical record with museum specimensand modern studies to characterize climatic thresholds leading to localspecies extirpation and/or range alterations rather than in situ adaptation.Our results demonstrate remarkable congruence across the geographicrange at a variety of temporal scales. Chronosequences plotted for variouslocations demonstrate that woodrats respond as expected on the basis ofBergmann's rule: colder climatic conditions select for larger body size andwarmer conditions select for smaller body size. For this genus, at least,morphological adaptation appears to be the dominant mechanism indealing with changing climatic regimes. Moreover, our work documentsthe entire range of responses – phenotypic adaptation, migration andspecies replacements, and local extirpation. We compare our investiga-tions of responses to past Quaternary climate change with those necessaryto adapt to predicted levels of anthropogenic warming to assess whethersuch changes are within animals’ evolutionary capacity.

PALEOSOLS AT THE KAWAKAWA TEPHRA ISOCHRON: THEIR USE INPALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTION FOR NORTHERN SOUTHISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Carol Smith. Lincoln University, New ZealandE-mail address: carol.smith@lincoln.ac.nz

Estimates for a global LGM agree on a commencement from 19-23 K BP,however in New Zealand there is a growing body of evidence for anearlier onset of the LGM. The extended LGM (eLGM) in New Zealand isdriven by the enhanced westerly flow of the mid-latitude westerliesleading to glacial advances on the west coast of the South Island andincreasing aridity on the east coast. There is multi-proxy agreement inNew Zealand for 3 advances within the eLGM at approximately 28, 22and 19 k BP; with a climate amelioration between 25-28 k BP.The Kawakawa tephra (KKT) component of the 27 k cal yr BP Oruanuieruption from the Taupo volcano in central North Island is an importantchronostratigraphic marker, appearing towards the start of the climateamelioration within the eLGM. The phreatomagmatic eruption dispersedfall deposits across both the North and South Islands and also the PacificOcean. This chronostratigraphic marker thus allows the correlation of pal-oenvironmental records across varying landscapes and depositionalenvironments.Previous research by the authors using phytolith proxy records infer a dryclimate on the east coast while in intermontane basins and upland areasproximal to glaciers, tall tussock grassland dominates. Moreover, changes

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in paleoecological flora and fauna species composition at individual sitesbefore and after tephra deposition may be due to a disturbance effect ofthe tephra.Samples were collected from varying biogeographical locations rep-resenting a range of depositional environments (dry east coast; inter-montaine basins; upland sites proximal to glacial areas). We studiedthe micromorphology of the constraining paleosol horizons and of thetephra itself, in order to aid the reconstruction of a provisional pale-oenvironment for selected sites in the northern South Island. Theresults will be discussed in the context of the ability of the paleosols torecord the paleoenvironmental changes, as inferred from other proxyrecords.

A DECADAL RECORD OF 10BE CONCENTRATIONATMONTHLY RESOLUTIONFROM LAW DOME, ANTARCTICA

Andrew Smith. Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Techno, AustraliaE-mail address: ams@ansto.gov.au

In November 2005 an ANSTO-led expedition recovered a 260 m icecore designated DSS0506 from the summit of Law Dome, EastAntarctica. Additionally, a 4 m snow pit was excavated, specifically for10Be (t½ ¼ 1.36 � 106 years) analysis. This snow pit augmented a 2 msnow pit dug nearby in December 2001. Both snow pits were in thevicinity of an automated weather station and in each case sampleswere taken from surface to base in 100 mm thick layers. At this high-accumulation site these samples are of approximately monthlyresolution.

The upper w 70 m of the DSS0506 core is firn and has been used for10Be studies. The topmost section of the core from 1999–2005 wassampled at approximately monthly resolution and overlaps the twosnow pit records. Field work was also undertaken in January 2008,December 2008 and January 2010 and is anticipated for January 2011.This field work has typically included multiple 3–5 m PICO cores anda 0.5–1.0 snow pit. Each PICO core overlaps an earlier record. Samplechronology for all samples has been established through measurementof d18O, permitting re-sampling to even monthly spacing by linearinterpolation and the production of a composite 10Be record. Allsamples were processed and measured for 10Be by accelerator massspectrometry (AMS) at ANSTO's ANTARES facility. Additionally, snowpit samples were processed for 7Be (t½ ¼ 53.4 days), initially measuredby gamma spectroscopy and more recently by AMS. Taken together, thisis a unique cosmogenic beryllium sample set. It has provided insightinto the spatial homogeneity of the 10Be signal at Law Dome and therole of meteorological processes and seasonality in establishing 10Beconcentrations. It has permitted detailed comparison of the 10Be recordwith neutron counting rates over a solar cycle which exhibited thedeepest minimum in a century. We present an overview of this work,with emphasis on the technical aspects of sample preparation and ofAMS measurement.

DEGLACIAL HISTORY OF THE WEST ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET IN THEWESTERN AMUNDSEN SEA EMBAYMENT

James Smith. British Antarctic Survey, United KingdomE-mail address: jaas@bas.ac.uk

The Amundsen Sea Embayment (ASE) drains approximately 35% of theWest Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) and is one of the most rapidly changingparts of the cryosphere. In order to predict future ice-sheet behaviour,modellers require long-term records of ice-sheet melting to constrain andbuild confidence in their simulations. Here, we present detailed marinegeological and radiocarbon data from the western ASE to establish thetiming of deglaciation since the LGM. We have undertaken multi-proxyanalyses of the cores in order to: (1) characterise the sedimentologicalfacies and depositional environments; and (2) identify the horizon(s) ineach core that would yield the most reliable age for deglaciation. Likeprevious studies we identify three key facies, which offer the most reliablestratigraphies for dating deglaciation by recording the transition froma grounded ice sheet to open marine environments: i) subglacial, ii)

proximal grounding-line, and iii) seasonal open-marine. In addition, weincorporate ages from other facies (e.g., glaciogenic debris flows, icebergrafted diamictons and turbates). We have dated 78 samples (mainly theacid insoluble organic fraction, but also calcareous foraminifers), including63 downcore and 15 surface samples. Through careful sample selectionprior to dating, we have established a robust deglacial chronology for thewestern ASE. Our data show that deglaciation was probably underway asearly as 22,351 cal yr BP, reaching the mid-shelf by 13,837 cal yr BP and theinner shelf to within c.10-12 km of the present ice shelf front between12,618 and 10,072 cal yr BP. We show that the rate of ice-sheet retreatincreased across the deep basins of the inner shelf, highlighting theimportance of reverse slope and pinning points in accelerated phases ofdeglaciation. A sudden rise in sea level (mwp-1a) at this time might alsohave contributed to the acceleration of GL retreat by further reducing thedrag between the ice sheet and its bed.

TRANSITION FROM HUNTER-GATHERER TO PRODUCTIVE ECONOMY INNORTH-WESTERN BLACK SEA REGION: CONTEMPORARY PARADIGM OFSTUDIES IN THE LIGHT OF BLACK SEA LEVEL CHANGES

Olena Smyntyna. Odessa National I.I. Mechnikov University, UkraineE-mail address: smyntyna_olena@onu.edu.ua

In spite of over half-century history of field studies, introduction of cattlebreeding and land cultivation in North-Western Black Sea region remainsdisputable in many aspects. Series of controversial scenarios of Black Seabasin Early and Middle Holocene history proposed recently in frames ofIGCP 521 - INQUA 501 project (2005 – 2011) has opened new insights ininvestigations of transition to productive economy in the region understudy. Purpose of current contribution is to verify hypothesis of autoch-thonous versus migrational hypothesis of cattle breeding and land culti-vation in Ukrainian part of Danubian region in connection with history ofBlack Sea basin. Role of Balkan and Eastern Mediterranean population inthis process is also highlighted.Existing archaeological, paleontological, palynological and geological dataare summarized in order to clarify sources of domestic plants and animalsintroduction as well as to precise chronology of their adoption in LowerDniester – Lower Danubian interfluves during Boreal and Atlantic periodsof Holocene. Consequences of productive economy introduction for themode of life and non-utilitarian activities of population of the region understudy are delineated.

GEOARCHAEOLOGY INUKRAINE:BASICPARADIGMSANDCONTEMPORARYCONTROVERSIES

Olena Smyntyna. Odessa National I.I. Mechnikov University, UkraineE-mail address: smyntyna_olena@onu.edu.ua

Revision of methodological base of archaeological science which tookplace at post-Soviet space during 1990-ies – beginning of 2000-ies hascreated fundamental background for transition to the new paradigm offield research of prehistoric sites in which one can trace deep cooperationof archaeologists and anthropologists with geologists, paleogeographers,palynologists, paleonthologists, geomorphologists and other representa-tives of natural sciences. Most of such field works have been realized inframes of international multidisciplinary projects, and in the course ofsuch cooperation gradual introduction of new theoretical approaches andconcepts (such as cultural adaptation, resilience, co-evolution, environ-mental stress and crisis etc.) could be traced in Ukrainian archaeology. Onthis principally new theoretical base series of key issues of Ukrainianprehistory has been revised, among them reconstruction of co-existence ofCro-Magnons and Neanderthals, transformation of cultural behavior onthe Pleistocene and Holocene boundary, transition to productive economyand others.Current contribution is aimed onto delineation of basic directions of geo-archaeological studies in contemporary Ukrainian prehistoric archaeology,methods used and new topics of studies origin. Main controversial issuesoriginated due to correlation of archaeological and environmental data arealso examined.