title: Widespread platinum anomaly documented at the Younger Dryas onset in North American sedimentary sequences.
abstract: Previously, a large platinum (Pt) anomaly was reported in the Greenland ice sheet at the Younger Dryas boundary (YDB) (12,800 Cal B.P.). In order to evaluate its geographic extent, fire-assay and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FA and ICP-MS) elemental analyses were performed on 11 widely separated archaeological bulk sedimentary sequences. We document discovery of a distinct Pt anomaly spread widely across North America and dating to the Younger Dryas (YD) onset. The apparent synchroneity of this widespread YDB Pt anomaly is consistent with Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) data that indicated atmospheric input of platinum-rich dust. We expect the Pt anomaly to serve as a widely-distributed time marker horizon (datum) for identification and correlation of the onset of the YD climatic episode at 12,800 Cal B.P. This Pt datum will facilitate the dating and correlating of archaeological, paleontological, and paleoenvironmental data between sequences, especially those with limited age control.
authors.affiliation: Savannah River Archaeological Research Program, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of South Carolina, P.O. Box 400, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: GeoScience Consulting, Dewey, AZ, 86327, USA.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27921, USA.
authors.forename: Malcolm A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: LeCompte
authors.affiliation: Savannah River Archaeological Research Program, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of South Carolina, P.O. Box 400, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
authors.forename: I Randolph
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Albert C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Goodyear
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Studies, Wofford College, 429 N Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663, USA.
authors.forename: Terry A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ivester
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Luminescence Dating Laboratory, 125 Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195-3412, USA.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Feathers
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kennett
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anthropology and Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Tankersley
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA.
authors.forename: A Victor
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Adedeji
authors.affiliation: Geology Program, School of Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA.
authors.forename: Ted E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Bunch