Topic ID #2831 - posted 2/3/2008 4:43 PM
Charlie Hatchett
Hueyatlaco/ Valsequillo
Charlie Hatchett
All files and photos linked in this post are courtesy of Virginia Steen-McIntyre from her archives. Photos and text credited to their respective authors.
ARMENTA MONOGRAPH
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/ARMENTA%20MONOGRAPH%20complete.pdf
ARMENTA MONOGRAPH- ENGLISH TRANSLATION
http://bandstex.globat.com/ARMENTA%20MONOGRAPH%20English.pdf
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/ly5tzt
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/n9pqz2
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/mdl9lh
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/mpbtqm
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE- DRAWING
http://tinyurl.com/nccyvo
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE- DRAWING
http://tinyurl.com/neofn4
BI-POINTED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/bipointed%20hueyatlaco.tif
UNIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/uniface%20hueyatlaco.tif
STEMMED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/stemmed%20hueyatlaco.tif
DESCRIPTION OF TECHNOLOGY RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/technology.tif
IMAGES OF ARTIFACTS RECOVERED FROM EL HORNO
http://bandstex.globat.com/hueyatlaco-el%20horno%20artifact%20photos.pdf
DRAWINGS OF ARTIFACTS RECOVERED FROM EL HORNO
http://bandstex.globat.com/hueyatlaco-el%20horno%20artifact%20drawings.pdf
Steen-McIntyres 2003 Current Research in the Pleistocene Submission
http://bandstex.globat.com/Steen-McIntyres%202003%20CRIP%20Submission.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2002 MEXICO CITY TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/2002%20Mexico%20City%20talk.pdf
VANLANDINGHAM'S PAPERS
VanLandingham, S. 2009c (abs.), Alleged Unconformity at the Hueyatlaco
Archaeological Site (Puebla, Mexico) Advocated by the Center for the
Study of the First Americans is Negated by 37 Lines of Diatom
Correlation, 20th North American Diatom Symposium, September 23-27,
2009, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, Milford, Iowa, Program & Abstracts.
ALLEGED UNCONFORMITY AT THE HUEYATLACO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (PUEBLA,
MEXICO) ADVOCATED BY THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE FIRST AMERICANS IS
NEGATED BY 37 LINES OF DIATOM CORRELATION
Sam l. VanLandingham1
1Consulting Environmentalist/Geologist, 1205 West Washington, Midland,
Texas 79701 USA
No other archaeological site in the world is known to be associated with
such a vast variety of age and paleoecologically diagnostic diatom
fossils as Hueyatlaco: 37 lines of correlation demonstrate this. In the
present work, 33 additional lines of diatom correlation are added to the
four previously published by the author, all of which discredit this
alleged unconformity: 7 of these lines pass directly through and the
remaining 26 pass within 3 m of the supposed unconformity at the
Hueyatlaco site. No proof of the postulated unconformity has been
presented, because it is a vacant hypothesis: it cannot be proven, since
the so called evidence has been destroyed (eroded away). At no other
location in the world would one be likely to find any non-marine
diatomaceous sequence with as many as 22 distinct beds with a total
thickness < 30 m which would result in so many lines of correlation
between samples based on the six criteria (i.e., taxonomic percentage
correlation, pennate to centric ratios, extinct taxa, earliest known
first occurrences, paleoecology, and dominance/subdominance associations
of taxa) for diatom correlation within a spherical area with a diameter
of < 3 m. All but 2 of the 37 lines of correlation link to samples
within the artifact-bearing B, C, E, and I Units of C. Irwin-Williams.
And all of these 35 lines of correlation corroborate a minimum age of
Last Interglacial (Sangamonian) for all of the artifact beds connected
with them. In the 37 lines of correlation, total diatom taxa extinct at
the end of the Sangamonian range from 5 in lines 9 and 36 to 17 in lines
1 and 30. Six of the lines of correlation have the
Cocconeis-Navicula-Synedra generic dominance/subdominance association which is otherwise known in the fossil record only from the Last
Interglacial of Europe and in the Western Hemisphere only in the six
correlation lines (4 of which pass directly through the
"unconformity"). Line 4 (which passes straight through the supposed
unconformity) links two samples (in the centric paucity zone) both of
which have the Cocconeis-Navicula-Nitzschia-Synedra
dominance/subdominance association, the only such occurrence of this
association known in the Western Hemisphere.
VanLandingham, S. 2009, Extraordinary Examples of Deception in Peer Reviewing: Concoction of the Dorenberg Skull Hoax and Related Misconduct, International Symposium on Peer Review (ISPR), Orlando, Florida, July 10-13 (to be published in July).
http://www.iiis.org/CDs2008/CD2009SCI/ispr2009/PapersPdf/V544TW.pdf
Below is the reference to Sam VanLandingham's latest paper on the age of the artifact-bearing sediments at Hueyatlaco, along with the abstract. He was working with the younger artifact-bearing beds (bifacial tools); the unifacial, edge-retouched tools are older still.
----------, 2009, Use of diatom biostratigraphy in determining a minimum (Sangamonian = 80,000--ca. 220,000 yr. BP) and a maximum (Illinoian = 220,000--430,000 yr. BP) age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts, Puebla, Mexico. Nova Hedwigia, Beiheft 135, p. 15-36.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/VanLandingham%202009a%20paper%20copy.pdf
----------, 2008, Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) chrysophyte cyst assemblages aid in corroborating a maximum Illinoian (ca. 220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) age for the artifacts at the Hueyatlaco site, Puebla, Mexico (abs.), 7th International Chrysophyte Symposium, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, Connecticut, June 22-26, 2008, Program (with abstracts)
Abstract: Bona fide artifacts have been found in situ in sedimentary deposits which, by various reputable means (including fossil cysts), have been demonstrated to be older than the Last Ice Age, but most American archaeologists disagree. No other archaeological site in the world is known to be associated with such highly significant age and environmentally diagnostic cyst/diatom evidence as Hueyatlaco. Two diagnostic Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) cyst assemblages (in samples VL2149 and VL2316) occur in a bed (Unit J) which is conformably below (and older) than the lowermost artifact-bearing bed (Unit I) at the Hueyatlaco archaeological site. And these two samples correlate with a third diagnostic Yarmouthian sample (68M288=VL2243) from a core 7 km NNW at Rancho Batan. The extinctions and earliest known first occurrences of the 26 extant and 8 extinct cyst taxa in the three samples (with a minimum 430,000 yr BP Yarmouthian age) corroborate a maximum of 430,000 yr BP age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts which previously was established by means of cyst/diatom assemblages with a maximum age of Illinoian (220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) in Unit I.
----------, 2006, Diatom evidence for autochthonous artifact deposition in the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico during the Sangamonian (sensu lato = 80,000 to ca 220,000 yr BP and Illinoian (220,000 to 430,000 yr BP). J. Paleolimnol, 36, 101-116.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/VanLandingham%202006b%20copy.pdf
----------, 2004, Corroboration of Sangamonian age of artifacts from the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico by means of diatom biostratigraphy. micropaleontology, 50:4, 313-342.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/cofsangamonianartifacts.pdf
----------, 2002, Corroboration of Sangamonian Interglacial age artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological area, Puebla, Mexico, by means of paleoecology and biostratigraphy of Chrysophyta cysts. Transactions of the 37th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and West Texas -- Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 6-7, 2001, Iraan, Texas, pp. 1-14.
http://bandstex.globat.com/VanLandingham2002.pdf
----------, 2000, Sangamonian Interglacial (Middle Pleistocene) environments of deposition of artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological site, Puebla, Mexico. Transactions, 35th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and Western Texas -- Southwest Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 9-11, 1999, Midland, Texas, pp. 81-98.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/VanLandingham%202000.pdf
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS: DENVER, 1926
http://bandstex.globat.com/00037.png
SOLORZANO'S ERECTUS-LIKE SUPRAORBITAL RIDGE RECOVERED IN JALISCO
http://bandstex.globat.com/Solorzano-%20Jalisco.rtf
SOLORZANO'S ERECTUS-LIKE SUPRAORBITAL RIDGE RECOVERED IN JALISCO
http://bandstex.globat.com/Solorzano-fossil%20artifacts.pdf
SOLORZANO'S ERECTUS-LIKE SUPRAORBITAL RIDGE RECOVERED IN JALISCO
http://bandstex.globat.com/chapala-brow-ridge.jpg
CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THE DORENBERG SKULL
http://bandstex.globat.com/Correspondence%20on%20Dorenberg.pdf
CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THE DORENBERG SKULL
http://bandstex.globat.com/Dorenberg%20Leipzig%20letter.pdf
CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THE DORENBERG SKULL
http://bandstex.globat.com/Dorenberg%20skull%20info.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/STEEN-McINTYRE%20HOUSTON%20GSA%202008.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK- SLIDES
http://bandstex.globat.com/Steen-McIntyre%20Houston%20GSA%202008%20slides.ppt
VANLANDINGHAM'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/VanLandingham%20GSA%202008.pdf
WATERS' 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK- SLIDES
http://bandstex.globat.com/Waters%20GSA%20talk%202008.pdf
ARMENTA MONOGRAPH
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/ARMENTA%20MONOGRAPH%20complete.pdf
ARMENTA MONOGRAPH- ENGLISH TRANSLATION
http://bandstex.globat.com/ARMENTA%20MONOGRAPH%20English.pdf
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/ly5tzt
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/n9pqz2
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/mdl9lh
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE
http://tinyurl.com/mpbtqm
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE- DRAWING
http://tinyurl.com/nccyvo
ARMENTA'S TETELA 1 ENGRAVED MASTODON BONE- DRAWING
http://tinyurl.com/neofn4
BI-POINTED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/bipointed%20hueyatlaco.tif
UNIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/uniface%20hueyatlaco.tif
STEMMED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/stemmed%20hueyatlaco.tif
DESCRIPTION OF TECHNOLOGY RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/technology.tif
IMAGES OF ARTIFACTS RECOVERED FROM EL HORNO
http://bandstex.globat.com/hueyatlaco-el%20horno%20artifact%20photos.pdf
DRAWINGS OF ARTIFACTS RECOVERED FROM EL HORNO
http://bandstex.globat.com/hueyatlaco-el%20horno%20artifact%20drawings.pdf
Steen-McIntyres 2003 Current Research in the Pleistocene Submission
http://bandstex.globat.com/Steen-McIntyres%202003%20CRIP%20Submission.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2002 MEXICO CITY TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/2002%20Mexico%20City%20talk.pdf
VANLANDINGHAM'S PAPERS
VanLandingham, S. 2009c (abs.), Alleged Unconformity at the Hueyatlaco
Archaeological Site (Puebla, Mexico) Advocated by the Center for the
Study of the First Americans is Negated by 37 Lines of Diatom
Correlation, 20th North American Diatom Symposium, September 23-27,
2009, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, Milford, Iowa, Program & Abstracts.
ALLEGED UNCONFORMITY AT THE HUEYATLACO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (PUEBLA,
MEXICO) ADVOCATED BY THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE FIRST AMERICANS IS
NEGATED BY 37 LINES OF DIATOM CORRELATION
Sam l. VanLandingham1
1Consulting Environmentalist/Geologist, 1205 West Washington, Midland,
Texas 79701 USA
No other archaeological site in the world is known to be associated with
such a vast variety of age and paleoecologically diagnostic diatom
fossils as Hueyatlaco: 37 lines of correlation demonstrate this. In the
present work, 33 additional lines of diatom correlation are added to the
four previously published by the author, all of which discredit this
alleged unconformity: 7 of these lines pass directly through and the
remaining 26 pass within 3 m of the supposed unconformity at the
Hueyatlaco site. No proof of the postulated unconformity has been
presented, because it is a vacant hypothesis: it cannot be proven, since
the so called evidence has been destroyed (eroded away). At no other
location in the world would one be likely to find any non-marine
diatomaceous sequence with as many as 22 distinct beds with a total
thickness < 30 m which would result in so many lines of correlation
between samples based on the six criteria (i.e., taxonomic percentage
correlation, pennate to centric ratios, extinct taxa, earliest known
first occurrences, paleoecology, and dominance/subdominance associations
of taxa) for diatom correlation within a spherical area with a diameter
of < 3 m. All but 2 of the 37 lines of correlation link to samples
within the artifact-bearing B, C, E, and I Units of C. Irwin-Williams.
And all of these 35 lines of correlation corroborate a minimum age of
Last Interglacial (Sangamonian) for all of the artifact beds connected
with them. In the 37 lines of correlation, total diatom taxa extinct at
the end of the Sangamonian range from 5 in lines 9 and 36 to 17 in lines
1 and 30. Six of the lines of correlation have the
Cocconeis-Navicula-Synedra generic dominance/subdominance association which is otherwise known in the fossil record only from the Last
Interglacial of Europe and in the Western Hemisphere only in the six
correlation lines (4 of which pass directly through the
"unconformity"). Line 4 (which passes straight through the supposed
unconformity) links two samples (in the centric paucity zone) both of
which have the Cocconeis-Navicula-Nitzschia-Synedra
dominance/subdominance association, the only such occurrence of this
association known in the Western Hemisphere.
VanLandingham, S. 2009, Extraordinary Examples of Deception in Peer Reviewing: Concoction of the Dorenberg Skull Hoax and Related Misconduct, International Symposium on Peer Review (ISPR), Orlando, Florida, July 10-13 (to be published in July).
http://www.iiis.org/CDs2008/CD2009SCI/ispr2009/PapersPdf/V544TW.pdf
Below is the reference to Sam VanLandingham's latest paper on the age of the artifact-bearing sediments at Hueyatlaco, along with the abstract. He was working with the younger artifact-bearing beds (bifacial tools); the unifacial, edge-retouched tools are older still.
----------, 2009, Use of diatom biostratigraphy in determining a minimum (Sangamonian = 80,000--ca. 220,000 yr. BP) and a maximum (Illinoian = 220,000--430,000 yr. BP) age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts, Puebla, Mexico. Nova Hedwigia, Beiheft 135, p. 15-36.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/VanLandingham%202009a%20paper%20copy.pdf
----------, 2008, Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) chrysophyte cyst assemblages aid in corroborating a maximum Illinoian (ca. 220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) age for the artifacts at the Hueyatlaco site, Puebla, Mexico (abs.), 7th International Chrysophyte Symposium, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, Connecticut, June 22-26, 2008, Program (with abstracts)
Abstract: Bona fide artifacts have been found in situ in sedimentary deposits which, by various reputable means (including fossil cysts), have been demonstrated to be older than the Last Ice Age, but most American archaeologists disagree. No other archaeological site in the world is known to be associated with such highly significant age and environmentally diagnostic cyst/diatom evidence as Hueyatlaco. Two diagnostic Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) cyst assemblages (in samples VL2149 and VL2316) occur in a bed (Unit J) which is conformably below (and older) than the lowermost artifact-bearing bed (Unit I) at the Hueyatlaco archaeological site. And these two samples correlate with a third diagnostic Yarmouthian sample (68M288=VL2243) from a core 7 km NNW at Rancho Batan. The extinctions and earliest known first occurrences of the 26 extant and 8 extinct cyst taxa in the three samples (with a minimum 430,000 yr BP Yarmouthian age) corroborate a maximum of 430,000 yr BP age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts which previously was established by means of cyst/diatom assemblages with a maximum age of Illinoian (220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) in Unit I.
----------, 2006, Diatom evidence for autochthonous artifact deposition in the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico during the Sangamonian (sensu lato = 80,000 to ca 220,000 yr BP and Illinoian (220,000 to 430,000 yr BP). J. Paleolimnol, 36, 101-116.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/VanLandingham%202006b%20copy.pdf
----------, 2004, Corroboration of Sangamonian age of artifacts from the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico by means of diatom biostratigraphy. micropaleontology, 50:4, 313-342.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/cofsangamonianartifacts.pdf
----------, 2002, Corroboration of Sangamonian Interglacial age artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological area, Puebla, Mexico, by means of paleoecology and biostratigraphy of Chrysophyta cysts. Transactions of the 37th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and West Texas -- Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 6-7, 2001, Iraan, Texas, pp. 1-14.
http://bandstex.globat.com/VanLandingham2002.pdf
----------, 2000, Sangamonian Interglacial (Middle Pleistocene) environments of deposition of artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological site, Puebla, Mexico. Transactions, 35th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and Western Texas -- Southwest Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 9-11, 1999, Midland, Texas, pp. 81-98.
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/VanLandingham/VanLandingham%202000.pdf
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS: DENVER, 1926
http://bandstex.globat.com/00037.png
SOLORZANO'S ERECTUS-LIKE SUPRAORBITAL RIDGE RECOVERED IN JALISCO
http://bandstex.globat.com/Solorzano-%20Jalisco.rtf
SOLORZANO'S ERECTUS-LIKE SUPRAORBITAL RIDGE RECOVERED IN JALISCO
http://bandstex.globat.com/Solorzano-fossil%20artifacts.pdf
SOLORZANO'S ERECTUS-LIKE SUPRAORBITAL RIDGE RECOVERED IN JALISCO
http://bandstex.globat.com/chapala-brow-ridge.jpg
CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THE DORENBERG SKULL
http://bandstex.globat.com/Correspondence%20on%20Dorenberg.pdf
CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THE DORENBERG SKULL
http://bandstex.globat.com/Dorenberg%20Leipzig%20letter.pdf
CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THE DORENBERG SKULL
http://bandstex.globat.com/Dorenberg%20skull%20info.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/STEEN-McINTYRE%20HOUSTON%20GSA%202008.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK- SLIDES
http://bandstex.globat.com/Steen-McIntyre%20Houston%20GSA%202008%20slides.ppt
VANLANDINGHAM'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/VanLandingham%20GSA%202008.pdf
WATERS' 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK- SLIDES
http://bandstex.globat.com/Waters%20GSA%20talk%202008.pdf
Post ID#5529 - replied 2/3/2008 4:46 PM
Charlie Hatchett
Files and introduction uploaded and posted for Virginia:
INTRODUCTION
Posted here are the Hueyatlaco trench profiles available to the
“Classic†Valsequillo project as of January 2008, plus another by Chris
Hardaker (copied with permission from his book, The First American, pp.
92-93), plus an edited version of the 2004 interim 4-extension profile
showing the locations of the 2004 Steen-McIntyre and VanLandingham
sediment samples.
The bulk of Irwin-Williams’ data, including her original profile
drawings, had been removed from her files in Portales, New Mexico before
Steen-McIntyre had a chance to copy them in 1997. The original INAH
profiles have not been located. The original Fryxell profiles are
archived, along with copies of other pertinent Valsequillo data, in the
Harold E. Malde file, Field Records Library, Central Regional Library,
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado. Other Malde papers are in the
process of being transferred to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
The trench profile drawings shown here, except for the Hardaker one,
were transferred to computer by Steen-McIntyre using the Adobe
Illustrator software program and the available profile copies as
templates. The work extended over many months, from June 2004 to October
2005, and was a learning experience for her. Irwin-Williams’ profile
1966 10/B-J and INAH profile 1966 66-4 were traced from copies she gave
to us (Malde, Fryxell, Steen-McIntyre) shortly before we left for field
work at Hueyatlaco in 1973. Her profile 1964? 8?/B-YY was pieced
together from 8.5x11 sheets (exact location not given) found in her
extant Portales materials. Grateful thanks to Chris Hardaker, who
recently uncovered the sheets for the eastern half of the profile while
looking through her remaining] data. The 2004 interim 4-extension
profile is a copy of an interim drawing by Mike Waters, made by me in
the field. It is included only to show placement of the samples I
collected during excavations at Hueyatlaco in June, 2004 and my geologic
interpretation.
The Fryxell profiles were drawn primarily from a series of annotated
blue-line prints provided to Steen-McIntyre by Roald’s widow, Helen, in
1977. Only recently was it discovered that the originals were at the
U.S.G.S. offices in Denver, and Hal Malde kindly provided sharper copies
of them.
All profiles were carefully transferred to computer. Contact lines were
traced at a magnification of 1100 per cent for the most part. The
bedding units in the lower trenches (includes those containing
artifacts) were identified by Irwin-Williams on her profiles, either by
label or pattern overlay, and were the standard to which Fryxell sheet 4
and 2004 interim 4-extension profile were compared when correlating beds
and adding the color overlay.
TRENCH PROFILES
A word here about trench profiles, especially the Fryxell series.
Trench profiles are accurate, vertical drawings of the sedimentary
layers encountered at an archaeologic site during the process of
excavation. They preserve the record of the stratigraphy of the site; a
record that can be used by future researchers after the site itself has
been reduced to a backfilled cavity.
At the beginning of the first season of excavation, a bench mark is
chosen and the site is surveyed. A horizontal grid is established,
usually at metre intervals, and the grid lines are identified in some
way. Excavation usually takes place vertically in blocks controlled by
the placement of this horizontal grid. The vertical walls that form
around the sides of the blocks as the material within them is removed
show in cross section the layers of sediment encountered, the
sedimentary beds. They provide the raw data for the trench profiles.
Periodically excavation work is halted while the scientist in charge,
after previously scribing the bedding contacts directly on a newly
exposed trench wall, transfers the information to a large sheet of graph
paper. Sedimentary units of interest are labeled in the field with a
number or letter, and the position of any archaeologic or geologic
feature is carefully measured and drawn to scale. A surveyed grid of
strong twine, attached to the vertical wall with long nails, guides the
transfer. A series of such profiles is drawn as the excavation
continues, often spaced only a metre apart. The annotated profiles are
later reconstructed in the office or on computer to form a
three-dimensional picture of the site.
The “Classic era†Hueyatlaco trench profiles shown here were originally
drawn in 1964?, 1966 and 1973. Site archaeologist Cynthia Irwin-Williams
provided us (Malde, Fryxell, Steen-McIntyre) with a copy of her 1966
profile 10/B-J in 1973, shortly before we left for new work there. The
plan was to use this profile, in which she identified her bedding units,
and her survey datum point to tie our planned excavation in with hers.
This we were able to do (see join lines, Irwin-Williams’ 1966 profile,
Fryxell sheet 4, Waters interim 4--extension).
Profiles on Fryxell sheets 1 through 4 were drawn in 1973 by Fryxell
assisted by Steen-McIntyre. Each dashed line represents an actual
bedding plane, and shows in cross section the ground surface as it
existed just prior to the deposition of the sedimentary layer
immediately above it. Periodically over the years, erosion would remove
portions of the bedding units, then the sequence of deposition would
begin all over again. These “breaks†in the sedimentary sequence, which
actually represent periods of “lost†time, show up as angular
unconformities, some quite distinct, between the two series of beds.
(Sedimentary beds are most easily recognized when a newly exposed trench
wall is allowed to dry naturally for a day or two undisturbed. Then, the
sandy beds will appear lighter in color than the clay-rich ones, and
natural cracks, or parting planes, will develop along the bedding planes.)
When examining a trench profile, Fryxell first concentrated on the
bedding planes at the bottom and top of a sedimentary unit of interest
rather than the unit itself. This enabled him to recognize the unit,
deposited during the same time period, by its various sedimentary
facies: for example, a deposit of overbank sediment from a flooding
stream will grade from sand to silt and finally to clay as one moves
away from the ancient stream channel. This is what we found for the
uppermost sequence of the upper channel deposits exposed in
Irwin-Williams’ Hueyatlaco trenches, the ones labeled “sand grading to
clay†on Fryxell sheet 4
Virginia Steen-McIntyre
October 6, 2005, revised November 26, 2007, January 30, 2008
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Waters%20PDF%20profile/2004%20Interim%204-extension%20profile.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%201a-Oct.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%201b-Sept.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%202-Sept.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%203-Aug%20.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%204-May.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com//Hueyatlaco/Irwin-Williams%20PDF%20profiles/IRWIN%20WILLIAMS%20PROFILE%201964.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com//Hueyatlaco/Irwin-Williams%20PDF%20profiles/IRWIN%20WILLIAMS%20PROFILE%201966.pdf
____________________________________________________________
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Waters%20PDF%20profile/Waters%20profile%204-exten.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Irwin-Williams%20PDF%20profiles/ProfileWest2.jpg
Irwin-Williams 1966, Archives.
Reprinted with Permission of the Publisher from The First American
copyright 2007, Christopher Hardaker. Published by New Page Books, a
division of Career Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ. 800-227-3371. All rights
reserved.
INTRODUCTION
Posted here are the Hueyatlaco trench profiles available to the
“Classic†Valsequillo project as of January 2008, plus another by Chris
Hardaker (copied with permission from his book, The First American, pp.
92-93), plus an edited version of the 2004 interim 4-extension profile
showing the locations of the 2004 Steen-McIntyre and VanLandingham
sediment samples.
The bulk of Irwin-Williams’ data, including her original profile
drawings, had been removed from her files in Portales, New Mexico before
Steen-McIntyre had a chance to copy them in 1997. The original INAH
profiles have not been located. The original Fryxell profiles are
archived, along with copies of other pertinent Valsequillo data, in the
Harold E. Malde file, Field Records Library, Central Regional Library,
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado. Other Malde papers are in the
process of being transferred to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
The trench profile drawings shown here, except for the Hardaker one,
were transferred to computer by Steen-McIntyre using the Adobe
Illustrator software program and the available profile copies as
templates. The work extended over many months, from June 2004 to October
2005, and was a learning experience for her. Irwin-Williams’ profile
1966 10/B-J and INAH profile 1966 66-4 were traced from copies she gave
to us (Malde, Fryxell, Steen-McIntyre) shortly before we left for field
work at Hueyatlaco in 1973. Her profile 1964? 8?/B-YY was pieced
together from 8.5x11 sheets (exact location not given) found in her
extant Portales materials. Grateful thanks to Chris Hardaker, who
recently uncovered the sheets for the eastern half of the profile while
looking through her remaining] data. The 2004 interim 4-extension
profile is a copy of an interim drawing by Mike Waters, made by me in
the field. It is included only to show placement of the samples I
collected during excavations at Hueyatlaco in June, 2004 and my geologic
interpretation.
The Fryxell profiles were drawn primarily from a series of annotated
blue-line prints provided to Steen-McIntyre by Roald’s widow, Helen, in
1977. Only recently was it discovered that the originals were at the
U.S.G.S. offices in Denver, and Hal Malde kindly provided sharper copies
of them.
All profiles were carefully transferred to computer. Contact lines were
traced at a magnification of 1100 per cent for the most part. The
bedding units in the lower trenches (includes those containing
artifacts) were identified by Irwin-Williams on her profiles, either by
label or pattern overlay, and were the standard to which Fryxell sheet 4
and 2004 interim 4-extension profile were compared when correlating beds
and adding the color overlay.
TRENCH PROFILES
A word here about trench profiles, especially the Fryxell series.
Trench profiles are accurate, vertical drawings of the sedimentary
layers encountered at an archaeologic site during the process of
excavation. They preserve the record of the stratigraphy of the site; a
record that can be used by future researchers after the site itself has
been reduced to a backfilled cavity.
At the beginning of the first season of excavation, a bench mark is
chosen and the site is surveyed. A horizontal grid is established,
usually at metre intervals, and the grid lines are identified in some
way. Excavation usually takes place vertically in blocks controlled by
the placement of this horizontal grid. The vertical walls that form
around the sides of the blocks as the material within them is removed
show in cross section the layers of sediment encountered, the
sedimentary beds. They provide the raw data for the trench profiles.
Periodically excavation work is halted while the scientist in charge,
after previously scribing the bedding contacts directly on a newly
exposed trench wall, transfers the information to a large sheet of graph
paper. Sedimentary units of interest are labeled in the field with a
number or letter, and the position of any archaeologic or geologic
feature is carefully measured and drawn to scale. A surveyed grid of
strong twine, attached to the vertical wall with long nails, guides the
transfer. A series of such profiles is drawn as the excavation
continues, often spaced only a metre apart. The annotated profiles are
later reconstructed in the office or on computer to form a
three-dimensional picture of the site.
The “Classic era†Hueyatlaco trench profiles shown here were originally
drawn in 1964?, 1966 and 1973. Site archaeologist Cynthia Irwin-Williams
provided us (Malde, Fryxell, Steen-McIntyre) with a copy of her 1966
profile 10/B-J in 1973, shortly before we left for new work there. The
plan was to use this profile, in which she identified her bedding units,
and her survey datum point to tie our planned excavation in with hers.
This we were able to do (see join lines, Irwin-Williams’ 1966 profile,
Fryxell sheet 4, Waters interim 4--extension).
Profiles on Fryxell sheets 1 through 4 were drawn in 1973 by Fryxell
assisted by Steen-McIntyre. Each dashed line represents an actual
bedding plane, and shows in cross section the ground surface as it
existed just prior to the deposition of the sedimentary layer
immediately above it. Periodically over the years, erosion would remove
portions of the bedding units, then the sequence of deposition would
begin all over again. These “breaks†in the sedimentary sequence, which
actually represent periods of “lost†time, show up as angular
unconformities, some quite distinct, between the two series of beds.
(Sedimentary beds are most easily recognized when a newly exposed trench
wall is allowed to dry naturally for a day or two undisturbed. Then, the
sandy beds will appear lighter in color than the clay-rich ones, and
natural cracks, or parting planes, will develop along the bedding planes.)
When examining a trench profile, Fryxell first concentrated on the
bedding planes at the bottom and top of a sedimentary unit of interest
rather than the unit itself. This enabled him to recognize the unit,
deposited during the same time period, by its various sedimentary
facies: for example, a deposit of overbank sediment from a flooding
stream will grade from sand to silt and finally to clay as one moves
away from the ancient stream channel. This is what we found for the
uppermost sequence of the upper channel deposits exposed in
Irwin-Williams’ Hueyatlaco trenches, the ones labeled “sand grading to
clay†on Fryxell sheet 4
Virginia Steen-McIntyre
October 6, 2005, revised November 26, 2007, January 30, 2008
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Waters%20PDF%20profile/2004%20Interim%204-extension%20profile.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%201a-Oct.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%201b-Sept.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%202-Sept.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%203-Aug%20.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Fryxell%20PDF%20profiles/Fryxell%20Sheet%204-May.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com//Hueyatlaco/Irwin-Williams%20PDF%20profiles/IRWIN%20WILLIAMS%20PROFILE%201964.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com//Hueyatlaco/Irwin-Williams%20PDF%20profiles/IRWIN%20WILLIAMS%20PROFILE%201966.pdf
____________________________________________________________
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Waters%20PDF%20profile/Waters%20profile%204-exten.pdf
http://bandstex.globat.com/Hueyatlaco/Irwin-Williams%20PDF%20profiles/ProfileWest2.jpg
Irwin-Williams 1966, Archives.
Reprinted with Permission of the Publisher from The First American
copyright 2007, Christopher Hardaker. Published by New Page Books, a
division of Career Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ. 800-227-3371. All rights
reserved.
Post ID#5530 - replied 2/3/2008 4:53 PM
Charlie Hatchett
Hueyatlaco, Mexico
Several potential pre-Clovis localities were found in the 1960s around the edge of the Valsequillo Reservoir, Mexico. One of these localities is the site of Hueyatlaco. This site was excavated by Cynthia Irwin-Williams in 1962, 1964, and 1966. At this site, numerous unifacial flake tools were found with extinct fauna. Questions about the stratigraphy, location of the artifacts, and dating have plague this site. In 2003, a trip was made to the Smithsonian Archives in Maryland and the files of Cynthia Irwin-Williams were examined. Numerous maps and files were photocopied and this material was used to reconstruct the excavations conducted at the site in 1962, 1964, and 1966. Field investigations were undertaken during May and June of 2004 at Hueyatlaco. Three trenches were excavated at the site in order to examine and evaluate the stratigraphy at Hueyatlaco. We were able to confirm that the Hueyatlaco Ash did indeed overlie what was reported to be the unifacial artifact-bearing deposits (Bed I). An unconformity separated the alluvium containing the bifacial material (Bed E and C). Samples of the Hueyatlaco Ash and other units are being dated by the Ar-Ar and luminescence techniques. These dates will resolve once and for all the age of this important site. This research is being done in collaboration with Joaquin Arroyo-Cabrales (INAH), Patricia Ochoa-Castillo (National Museum of Anthropology), and Mario Perez-Campa (INAH).
http://www.centerfirstamericans.org/research.php#current_projects
Several potential pre-Clovis localities were found in the 1960s around the edge of the Valsequillo Reservoir, Mexico. One of these localities is the site of Hueyatlaco. This site was excavated by Cynthia Irwin-Williams in 1962, 1964, and 1966. At this site, numerous unifacial flake tools were found with extinct fauna. Questions about the stratigraphy, location of the artifacts, and dating have plague this site. In 2003, a trip was made to the Smithsonian Archives in Maryland and the files of Cynthia Irwin-Williams were examined. Numerous maps and files were photocopied and this material was used to reconstruct the excavations conducted at the site in 1962, 1964, and 1966. Field investigations were undertaken during May and June of 2004 at Hueyatlaco. Three trenches were excavated at the site in order to examine and evaluate the stratigraphy at Hueyatlaco. We were able to confirm that the Hueyatlaco Ash did indeed overlie what was reported to be the unifacial artifact-bearing deposits (Bed I). An unconformity separated the alluvium containing the bifacial material (Bed E and C). Samples of the Hueyatlaco Ash and other units are being dated by the Ar-Ar and luminescence techniques. These dates will resolve once and for all the age of this important site. This research is being done in collaboration with Joaquin Arroyo-Cabrales (INAH), Patricia Ochoa-Castillo (National Museum of Anthropology), and Mario Perez-Campa (INAH).
http://www.centerfirstamericans.org/research.php#current_projects
Post ID#5617 - replied 2/7/2008 12:43 AM
Charlie Hatchett
Hueyatlaco site (Puebla, Mexico):
http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/chapter54/text-Hueyatlaco/text-Hueyatlaco.htm
http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/chapter54/text-Hueyatlaco/text-Hueyatlaco.htm
Post ID#7238 - replied 5/3/2008 3:34 PM
Charlie Hatchett
Biface and Uniface Images:
BI-POINTED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/bipointed%20hueyatlaco.tif
UNIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/uniface%20hueyatlaco.tif
STEMMED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/stemmed%20hueyatlaco.tif
BI-POINTED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/bipointed%20hueyatlaco.tif
UNIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/uniface%20hueyatlaco.tif
STEMMED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/stemmed%20hueyatlaco.tif
Post ID#11480 - replied 10/16/2008 8:20 PM
Charlie Hatchett
"...Early Man, Mexico
The controversial early man sites from the Valsequillo region, State of
Puebla, east-central Mexico were discussed in a series of papers
presented October 6 at the Harold E. Malde Memorial session, Geological
Society of America Annual Meetings, Houston Texas. Malde was geologist
on the Valsequillo Project, and his involvement with it spanned 40 years
(1964 - 2004.) Virginia Steen-McIntyre gave the history of the project
for that time, concentrating on the Hueyatlaco site, the youngest of
four and the one with the thickest sedimentary cover. The sites could
not be dated by 14C because all bones were permineralized and no datable
carbon remained.
Uranium-series dates for two of the sites -- a fragment of tooth from a
butchered mastodon at El Horno, associated with unifacial tools (greater
than 280,000 years), and an articulated camel pelvis associated with
bifacial tools at Hueyatlaco (ca 245,000 years) were supplemented with
fission-track dates on zircon phenocrysts from two overlying volcanic
layers (Hueyatlaco ash, Tetela brown mud pumice) and tephra hydration
dating (1969 - 1973.) All agreed that the sites were roughly a
quarter-million years old.
At the Houston session, Sam VanLandingham presented diatom evidence from
close to 150 sediment samples, many collected at Hueyatlaco, that the
Hueyatlaco sedimentary section, from top to bottom, is Sangamon
Interglacial and older in age (greater than 80,000 years.) Bifacial
tools from a series of buried stream channels are of Sangamon
Interglacial age [bifacial tools have now been found in the African
Middle Stone Age sediments (250,000 - 300,000 years) associated with
archaic Homo sapiens.] Unifacial tools, from older, relatively
flat-lying sediments are Illinoian Glacial (220,000 - 430,000 years.)
Sterile Unit J at the base of the archaeological section is Yarmouthian
Interglacial (greater than 430,000 years.) Approximately two metres
lower at the site, as determined by additional excavation in 2004, is
the Xalnene tuff/Toluquilla ash of Silvia González' "Footprints" site.
It has reverse magnetic polarity and must be at least 790,000 years old
(the Brunhes-Matuyama geomagnetic reversal..)
Joe Liddicoat presented evidence for the paleomagnetism of the
Hueyatlaco ash, which overlies (is younger than) the artifact-bearing
beds -- normal polarity, placing it in the Brunhes Normal Chron (present
to 780,000 years.) Mike Waters; asserted that all the Hueyatlaco
artifacts occur in a much younger stream channel inset into the older,
dated beds. This ignores the evidence that: (1) The
quarter-million-year-old uranium-series dates were for butchered
animals, especially evident for the El Horno site, where the mastodon
skeleton itself becomes an artifact of sorts. (2) The same set of
Sangamon-age diatoms occurs in samples on both sides of the "inset"
contact and within a metre of each other. (3) All the beds exposed at
Hueyatlaco are Sangamon Interglacial in age or older (older than 80,000
years.)
Silvia González' "Footprint" site was also discussed. Josh Feinberg
pointed out that the Xalnene tuff/Toluquilla ash, where they are found,
has reverse magnetic polarity and must be older than the last
geomagnetic reversal (the Brunhes-Matuyama, approximately 790,000 years
ago.) Other evidence indicates that the marks are not made by human
feet. Harald Böhnel, representing the González group, agreed that the
tuff is reversely polarized. They believe the footprints are real, and
(at least earlier) that the reverse magnetism may be due to the Laschamp
geomagnetic event approximately 42,000 years ago..."
http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org/site/enews/enews_24.pdf
The controversial early man sites from the Valsequillo region, State of
Puebla, east-central Mexico were discussed in a series of papers
presented October 6 at the Harold E. Malde Memorial session, Geological
Society of America Annual Meetings, Houston Texas. Malde was geologist
on the Valsequillo Project, and his involvement with it spanned 40 years
(1964 - 2004.) Virginia Steen-McIntyre gave the history of the project
for that time, concentrating on the Hueyatlaco site, the youngest of
four and the one with the thickest sedimentary cover. The sites could
not be dated by 14C because all bones were permineralized and no datable
carbon remained.
Uranium-series dates for two of the sites -- a fragment of tooth from a
butchered mastodon at El Horno, associated with unifacial tools (greater
than 280,000 years), and an articulated camel pelvis associated with
bifacial tools at Hueyatlaco (ca 245,000 years) were supplemented with
fission-track dates on zircon phenocrysts from two overlying volcanic
layers (Hueyatlaco ash, Tetela brown mud pumice) and tephra hydration
dating (1969 - 1973.) All agreed that the sites were roughly a
quarter-million years old.
At the Houston session, Sam VanLandingham presented diatom evidence from
close to 150 sediment samples, many collected at Hueyatlaco, that the
Hueyatlaco sedimentary section, from top to bottom, is Sangamon
Interglacial and older in age (greater than 80,000 years.) Bifacial
tools from a series of buried stream channels are of Sangamon
Interglacial age [bifacial tools have now been found in the African
Middle Stone Age sediments (250,000 - 300,000 years) associated with
archaic Homo sapiens.] Unifacial tools, from older, relatively
flat-lying sediments are Illinoian Glacial (220,000 - 430,000 years.)
Sterile Unit J at the base of the archaeological section is Yarmouthian
Interglacial (greater than 430,000 years.) Approximately two metres
lower at the site, as determined by additional excavation in 2004, is
the Xalnene tuff/Toluquilla ash of Silvia González' "Footprints" site.
It has reverse magnetic polarity and must be at least 790,000 years old
(the Brunhes-Matuyama geomagnetic reversal..)
Joe Liddicoat presented evidence for the paleomagnetism of the
Hueyatlaco ash, which overlies (is younger than) the artifact-bearing
beds -- normal polarity, placing it in the Brunhes Normal Chron (present
to 780,000 years.) Mike Waters; asserted that all the Hueyatlaco
artifacts occur in a much younger stream channel inset into the older,
dated beds. This ignores the evidence that: (1) The
quarter-million-year-old uranium-series dates were for butchered
animals, especially evident for the El Horno site, where the mastodon
skeleton itself becomes an artifact of sorts. (2) The same set of
Sangamon-age diatoms occurs in samples on both sides of the "inset"
contact and within a metre of each other. (3) All the beds exposed at
Hueyatlaco are Sangamon Interglacial in age or older (older than 80,000
years.)
Silvia González' "Footprint" site was also discussed. Josh Feinberg
pointed out that the Xalnene tuff/Toluquilla ash, where they are found,
has reverse magnetic polarity and must be older than the last
geomagnetic reversal (the Brunhes-Matuyama, approximately 790,000 years
ago.) Other evidence indicates that the marks are not made by human
feet. Harald Böhnel, representing the González group, agreed that the
tuff is reversely polarized. They believe the footprints are real, and
(at least earlier) that the reverse magnetism may be due to the Laschamp
geomagnetic event approximately 42,000 years ago..."
http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org/site/enews/enews_24.pdf
Post ID#11634 - replied 11/2/2008 10:50 PM
Charlie Hatchett
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/STEEN-McINTYRE%20HOUSTON%20GSA%202008.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/Steen-McIntyre%20Houston%20GSA%202008%20slides.ppt
VANLANDINGHAM'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/VanLandingham%20GSA%202008.pdf
Permission to reproduce granted by Virginia Steen-McIntyre on 11/02/2008.
http://bandstex.globat.com/STEEN-McINTYRE%20HOUSTON%20GSA%202008.pdf
STEEN-MCINTYRE'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/Steen-McIntyre%20Houston%20GSA%202008%20slides.ppt
VANLANDINGHAM'S 2008 HOUSTON GSA CONFERENCE TALK
http://bandstex.globat.com/VanLandingham%20GSA%202008.pdf
Permission to reproduce granted by Virginia Steen-McIntyre on 11/02/2008.
Post ID#11651 - replied 11/6/2008 8:01 AM
paleoface
Charlie, very interesting post- I know a lot of readers will not accept the concept of early American man and we both know what I mean by early. I applaud your courage in posting the topic. Good work Charlie!
Post ID#13296 - replied 3/13/2009 5:12 PM
Charlie Hatchett
Feinberg, J. M., P. R. Renne, J. Arroyo-Cabrales,
M. R. Waters, P. Ochoa-Castillo, and M. Perez-Campa,
2009, Age constraints on alleged "footprints"
preserved in the Xalnene Tuff near Puebla, Mexico.
Geology. v. 37, no. 3, p. 267-270, DOI: 10.1130/G24913A.1
Abstract at:
http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/full/37/3/267?ijkey=4ofrDqaPzYVN.&keytype=ref&siteid=gsgeology
PDF file at:
http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/reprint/37/3/267?ijkey=4ofrDqaPzYVN.&keytype=ref&siteid=gsgeology
M. R. Waters, P. Ochoa-Castillo, and M. Perez-Campa,
2009, Age constraints on alleged "footprints"
preserved in the Xalnene Tuff near Puebla, Mexico.
Geology. v. 37, no. 3, p. 267-270, DOI: 10.1130/G24913A.1
Abstract at:
http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/full/37/3/267?ijkey=4ofrDqaPzYVN.&keytype=ref&siteid=gsgeology
PDF file at:
http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/reprint/37/3/267?ijkey=4ofrDqaPzYVN.&keytype=ref&siteid=gsgeology
Post ID#13300 - replied 3/14/2009 7:24 AM
paleoface
Thanks Charlie-
A good read! One thing I found interesting, is that the authors have only taken the "bits and pieces" of their cited papers that "fit" their position. This is like going to an all you can eat Seafood buffet and eating everything except the seafood.....
For example, they cite the paper The Late Pleistocene Dispersal of Modern Humans in the Americas (Goebels, Waters and O'Rourke)which is a free read of full text on Science btw... but only the limited parts that they agree with, not the following:
Early occupations. Since the discovery and definition of Clovis, researchers have searched for evidence of an even older occupation of the Americas, but most sites dating before Clovis investigated between 1960 and 1995 [e.g., Calico (California), Tule Springs (Nevada), Pendejo Cave (New Mexico), Pedra Furada (Brazil), Pikimachay Cave (Peru), and Tlapacoya (Mexico)] have not held up to scientific scrutiny (2, 39). Perhaps the best candidate is the Monte Verde site (Chile), which contains clear artifacts in a sealed context and is dated to 14.6 ka (58). Despite criticism (59), its acceptance by most archaeologists means synchronous and possibly earlier sites should exist in North America. A few localities dating between 15 and 14 ka now seem to provide compelling evidence of an occupation before Clovis.
In the northern United States, the Schaefer and Hebior sites (Wisconsin) provide strong evidence of human proboscidean hunting or scavenging near the margin of the Laurentide ice sheet between 14.8 and 14.2 ka (60, 61). At each site, disarticulated remains of a single mammoth were sealed in pond clay and associated with unequivocal stone artifacts. The bones bear consistent signs of butchering—cut and pry marks made by stone tools (61). Critics suggest that the bone breakage and surface marring is the result of natural processes (2); however, it is difficult to reject the evidence from these sites because of the consistent patterning of the marks, low-energy depositional context, and associated stone tools. Even earlier evidence of humans in Wisconsin is suggested by what appear to be cut and pry marks on the lower limb bones of a mammoth recovered from Mud Lake. These bones date to 16 ka, but stone tools are absent (61).
Three other sites—Meadowcroft Rockshelter (Pennsylvania), Page-Ladson (Florida), and Paisley Cave (Oregon)—may provide additional evidence of humans in North America by about 14.6 ka. At Meadowcroft Rockshelter, artifacts occur in sediments that may be as old as 22 to 18 ka (62), but it is the record post-dating 15.2 ka that is especially interesting. This is the uppermost layer of lower stratum IIa, which produced a small lanceolate biface and is bracketed by dates of 15.2 and 13.4 ka. Acceptance of the site, however, hinges on resolution of dating issues (63).
At Page-Ladson, early materials occur in a buried geologic context within a sinkhole that is now submerged by the Aucilla River. Seven pieces of chert debitage, one expedient unifacial flake tool, and a possible hammerstone were associated with extinct faunal remains, including a mastodon tusk with six deep grooves at the point where the tusk emerged from the alveolus of the cranium (64). These grooves are interpreted to have been made by humans as the tusk was removed from its socket. Seven 14C dates for this horizon average about 14.4 ka, which suggests human occupation of the sinkhole during the late Pleistocene when the water table was lower than it is today. Page-Ladson may contain evidence of pre-Clovis humans, but, despite extensive reporting on the site, more details on artifact contexts and site formation processes are needed to permit objective evaluation of the record.
At Paisley Cave, three human coprolites are directly 14C dated to about 14.1 ka (14). The human origin of the coprolites is supported by ancient mtDNA analyses that showed they contained haplogroups A and B, but a complete report is not yet available.
In other words 14.6kya does not equal 13kya.......a lot can happen in 1600 years!
It's unfortunate that the $ and time spent on re-researching the footprints could not have been used to make new insights into archaeology- instead of this non productive tug-of-war between factions.
I for one am getting tired by the debating and proving./disproving of pre-clovis "sites". Put that energy into surveying new areas and new discoveries will happen. Wisconsin sounds like a good place to start but I suppose it isn't "sexy" enough to generate the $ needed for proper research. 'tis a shame.
A good read! One thing I found interesting, is that the authors have only taken the "bits and pieces" of their cited papers that "fit" their position. This is like going to an all you can eat Seafood buffet and eating everything except the seafood.....
For example, they cite the paper The Late Pleistocene Dispersal of Modern Humans in the Americas (Goebels, Waters and O'Rourke)which is a free read of full text on Science btw... but only the limited parts that they agree with, not the following:
Early occupations. Since the discovery and definition of Clovis, researchers have searched for evidence of an even older occupation of the Americas, but most sites dating before Clovis investigated between 1960 and 1995 [e.g., Calico (California), Tule Springs (Nevada), Pendejo Cave (New Mexico), Pedra Furada (Brazil), Pikimachay Cave (Peru), and Tlapacoya (Mexico)] have not held up to scientific scrutiny (2, 39). Perhaps the best candidate is the Monte Verde site (Chile), which contains clear artifacts in a sealed context and is dated to 14.6 ka (58). Despite criticism (59), its acceptance by most archaeologists means synchronous and possibly earlier sites should exist in North America. A few localities dating between 15 and 14 ka now seem to provide compelling evidence of an occupation before Clovis.
In the northern United States, the Schaefer and Hebior sites (Wisconsin) provide strong evidence of human proboscidean hunting or scavenging near the margin of the Laurentide ice sheet between 14.8 and 14.2 ka (60, 61). At each site, disarticulated remains of a single mammoth were sealed in pond clay and associated with unequivocal stone artifacts. The bones bear consistent signs of butchering—cut and pry marks made by stone tools (61). Critics suggest that the bone breakage and surface marring is the result of natural processes (2); however, it is difficult to reject the evidence from these sites because of the consistent patterning of the marks, low-energy depositional context, and associated stone tools. Even earlier evidence of humans in Wisconsin is suggested by what appear to be cut and pry marks on the lower limb bones of a mammoth recovered from Mud Lake. These bones date to 16 ka, but stone tools are absent (61).
Three other sites—Meadowcroft Rockshelter (Pennsylvania), Page-Ladson (Florida), and Paisley Cave (Oregon)—may provide additional evidence of humans in North America by about 14.6 ka. At Meadowcroft Rockshelter, artifacts occur in sediments that may be as old as 22 to 18 ka (62), but it is the record post-dating 15.2 ka that is especially interesting. This is the uppermost layer of lower stratum IIa, which produced a small lanceolate biface and is bracketed by dates of 15.2 and 13.4 ka. Acceptance of the site, however, hinges on resolution of dating issues (63).
At Page-Ladson, early materials occur in a buried geologic context within a sinkhole that is now submerged by the Aucilla River. Seven pieces of chert debitage, one expedient unifacial flake tool, and a possible hammerstone were associated with extinct faunal remains, including a mastodon tusk with six deep grooves at the point where the tusk emerged from the alveolus of the cranium (64). These grooves are interpreted to have been made by humans as the tusk was removed from its socket. Seven 14C dates for this horizon average about 14.4 ka, which suggests human occupation of the sinkhole during the late Pleistocene when the water table was lower than it is today. Page-Ladson may contain evidence of pre-Clovis humans, but, despite extensive reporting on the site, more details on artifact contexts and site formation processes are needed to permit objective evaluation of the record.
At Paisley Cave, three human coprolites are directly 14C dated to about 14.1 ka (14). The human origin of the coprolites is supported by ancient mtDNA analyses that showed they contained haplogroups A and B, but a complete report is not yet available.
In other words 14.6kya does not equal 13kya.......a lot can happen in 1600 years!
It's unfortunate that the $ and time spent on re-researching the footprints could not have been used to make new insights into archaeology- instead of this non productive tug-of-war between factions.
I for one am getting tired by the debating and proving./disproving of pre-clovis "sites". Put that energy into surveying new areas and new discoveries will happen. Wisconsin sounds like a good place to start but I suppose it isn't "sexy" enough to generate the $ needed for proper research. 'tis a shame.
Post ID#14097 - replied 5/27/2009 7:46 PM
Charlie Hatchett
VanLandingham, S.L., 2009, Use of diatom biostratigraphy in determining a minimum (Sangamonian = 80,000--ca.220,000 yr. BP) and a maximum (Illinoian = 220,000--430,00 yr. BP) age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts, Puebla, Mexico. Nova Hedwigia (February, 2009), Beiheft 135, p. 15-36.
Abstract: The diatom biostratigraphy presented herein establishes a minimum (Sangamonian) and a maximum (Illinoian) age for the younger (bifacial) artifacts at the Hueyatlaco archaeological site in units B,C, and E, Puebla, Mexico. One of the 13 samples in this study is from a position of Sangamonian age which is stratigraphically higher than the artifacts. The minimum age of this sample (from unit B) is demonstrated by 6 taxa which became extinct at the end of the Sangamonian , and its maximum age (also Sangamonian) is denoted by 3 taxa with earliest known first occurrences in the Sangamonian. The diatoms of the remaining 12 samples have a minimum age of Sangamonian. Three of the 13 samples are in unit I and no Hueyatlaco artifacts are known below this unit.
____________________________
VanLandingham major Valsequillo area diatom/chrysophyte papers, to date:
VanLandingham, S.L. in press, Use of diatoms in determining age and paleoenvironment of the Valsequillo (Hueyatlaco) early man site, Puebla, Mexico, with corroboration by Chrysophta cysts for a maximum Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) age of the artifacts, International Chrysophyte Symposium volume.
----------, 2009, Use of diatom biostratigraphy in determining a minimum (Sangamonian = 80,000--ca. 220,000 yr. BP) and a maximum (Illinoian = 220,000--430,000 yr. BP) age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts, Puebla, Mexico. Nova Hedwigia, Beiheft 135, p. 15-36.
----------, 2008, Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) chrysophyte cyst assemblages aid in corroborating a maximum Illinoian (ca. 220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) age for the artifacts at the Hueyatlaco site, Puebla, Mexico (abs.), 7th International Chrysophyte Symposium, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, Connecticut, June 22-26, 2008, Program (with abstracts)
Abstract: Bona fide artifacts have been found in situ in sedimentary deposits which, by various reputable means (including fossil cysts), have been demonstrated to be older than the Last Ice Age, but most American archaeologists disagree. No other archaeological site in the world is known to be associated with such highly significant age and environmentally diagnostic cyst/diatom evidence as Hueyatlaco. Two diagnostic Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) cyst assemblages (in samples VL2149 and VL2316) occur in a bed (Unit J) which is conformably below (and older) than the lowermost artifact-bearing bed (Unit I) at the Hueyatlaco archaeological site. And these two samples correlate with a third diagnostic Yarmouthian sample (68M288=VL2243) from a core 7 km NNW at Rancho Batan. The extinctions and earliest known first occurrences of the 26 extant and 8 extinct cyst taxa in the three samples (with a minimum 430,000 yr BP Yarmouthian age) corroborate a maximum of 430,000 yr BP age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts which previously was established by means of cyst/diatom assemblages with a maximum age of Illinoian (220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) in Unit I.
----------, 2006, Diatom evidence for autochthonous artifact deposition in the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico during the Sangamonian (sensu lato = 80,000 to ca 220,000 yr BP and Illinoian (220,000 to 430,000 yr BP). J. Paleolimnol, 36, 101-116.
----------, 2004, Corroboration of Sangamonian age of artifacts from the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico by means of diatom biostratigraphy. micropaleontology, 50:4, 313-342.
----------, 2002, Corroboration of Sangamonian Interglacial age artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological area, Puebla, Mexico, by means of paleoecology and biostratigraphy of Chrysophyta cysts. Transactions of the 37th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and West Texas -- Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 6-7, 2001, Iraan, Texas, pp. 1-14.
----------, 2000, Sangamonian Interglacial (Middle Pleistocene) environments of deposition of artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological site, Puebla, Mexico. Transactions, 35th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and Western Texas -- Southwest Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 9-11, 1999, Midland, Texas, pp. 81-98.
Abstract: The diatom biostratigraphy presented herein establishes a minimum (Sangamonian) and a maximum (Illinoian) age for the younger (bifacial) artifacts at the Hueyatlaco archaeological site in units B,C, and E, Puebla, Mexico. One of the 13 samples in this study is from a position of Sangamonian age which is stratigraphically higher than the artifacts. The minimum age of this sample (from unit B) is demonstrated by 6 taxa which became extinct at the end of the Sangamonian , and its maximum age (also Sangamonian) is denoted by 3 taxa with earliest known first occurrences in the Sangamonian. The diatoms of the remaining 12 samples have a minimum age of Sangamonian. Three of the 13 samples are in unit I and no Hueyatlaco artifacts are known below this unit.
____________________________
VanLandingham major Valsequillo area diatom/chrysophyte papers, to date:
VanLandingham, S.L. in press, Use of diatoms in determining age and paleoenvironment of the Valsequillo (Hueyatlaco) early man site, Puebla, Mexico, with corroboration by Chrysophta cysts for a maximum Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) age of the artifacts, International Chrysophyte Symposium volume.
----------, 2009, Use of diatom biostratigraphy in determining a minimum (Sangamonian = 80,000--ca. 220,000 yr. BP) and a maximum (Illinoian = 220,000--430,000 yr. BP) age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts, Puebla, Mexico. Nova Hedwigia, Beiheft 135, p. 15-36.
----------, 2008, Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) chrysophyte cyst assemblages aid in corroborating a maximum Illinoian (ca. 220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) age for the artifacts at the Hueyatlaco site, Puebla, Mexico (abs.), 7th International Chrysophyte Symposium, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, Connecticut, June 22-26, 2008, Program (with abstracts)
Abstract: Bona fide artifacts have been found in situ in sedimentary deposits which, by various reputable means (including fossil cysts), have been demonstrated to be older than the Last Ice Age, but most American archaeologists disagree. No other archaeological site in the world is known to be associated with such highly significant age and environmentally diagnostic cyst/diatom evidence as Hueyatlaco. Two diagnostic Yarmouthian (430,000 - 500,000 yr BP) cyst assemblages (in samples VL2149 and VL2316) occur in a bed (Unit J) which is conformably below (and older) than the lowermost artifact-bearing bed (Unit I) at the Hueyatlaco archaeological site. And these two samples correlate with a third diagnostic Yarmouthian sample (68M288=VL2243) from a core 7 km NNW at Rancho Batan. The extinctions and earliest known first occurrences of the 26 extant and 8 extinct cyst taxa in the three samples (with a minimum 430,000 yr BP Yarmouthian age) corroborate a maximum of 430,000 yr BP age for the Hueyatlaco artifacts which previously was established by means of cyst/diatom assemblages with a maximum age of Illinoian (220,000 - 430,000 yr BP) in Unit I.
----------, 2006, Diatom evidence for autochthonous artifact deposition in the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico during the Sangamonian (sensu lato = 80,000 to ca 220,000 yr BP and Illinoian (220,000 to 430,000 yr BP). J. Paleolimnol, 36, 101-116.
----------, 2004, Corroboration of Sangamonian age of artifacts from the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico by means of diatom biostratigraphy. micropaleontology, 50:4, 313-342.
----------, 2002, Corroboration of Sangamonian Interglacial age artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological area, Puebla, Mexico, by means of paleoecology and biostratigraphy of Chrysophyta cysts. Transactions of the 37th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and West Texas -- Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 6-7, 2001, Iraan, Texas, pp. 1-14.
----------, 2000, Sangamonian Interglacial (Middle Pleistocene) environments of deposition of artifacts at the Valsequillo archaeological site, Puebla, Mexico. Transactions, 35th Regional Archaeological Symposium for Southern New Mexico and Western Texas -- Southwest Federation of Archaeological Societies Annual Meeting, April 9-11, 1999, Midland, Texas, pp. 81-98.
Post ID#14099 - replied 5/27/2009 9:01 PM
FireArch
Moderator
...therefore any artifacts found within such diatom bearing sediments must be between 80,000 and 430,000 years old, right? That's a rather large paint brush...
Post ID#14100 - replied 5/27/2009 9:52 PM
Charlie Hatchett
[quote:="FireArch"]...therefore any artifacts found within such diatom bearing sediments must be between 80,000 and 430,000 years old, right? That's a rather large paint brush...
Yes it is. But the minimum 80kya date is intriguing. The max 430kya is also in conflict with Berkeley Geochronology Center's 1.1 mya date for the artifact bearing strata. Recent USGS research on the strata is also concordant with VanLandingham's conclusions: no reverse polarity, indicating the strata is less than ca. 700kya.
VanLandingham's conclusions are also concordant with Ken Farley's (CalTech) (U-Th)/He dates: 400kya-500kya, and Donelick's (University of Idaho at the time) minimum 250kya fission track dates.
Also, remember that Sam is reporting on several different strata: the higher strata containing bifacial material and the lower strata containing unifacial material.
Even "mainstreamers" such as Waters and Baker consider the site preClovis. The really nice bipointed biface was found in direct association with an extinct horse that was so mineralized that 14C dating was not possible:
BI-POINTED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/bipointed%20hueyatlaco.tif
Yes it is. But the minimum 80kya date is intriguing. The max 430kya is also in conflict with Berkeley Geochronology Center's 1.1 mya date for the artifact bearing strata. Recent USGS research on the strata is also concordant with VanLandingham's conclusions: no reverse polarity, indicating the strata is less than ca. 700kya.
VanLandingham's conclusions are also concordant with Ken Farley's (CalTech) (U-Th)/He dates: 400kya-500kya, and Donelick's (University of Idaho at the time) minimum 250kya fission track dates.
Also, remember that Sam is reporting on several different strata: the higher strata containing bifacial material and the lower strata containing unifacial material.
Even "mainstreamers" such as Waters and Baker consider the site preClovis. The really nice bipointed biface was found in direct association with an extinct horse that was so mineralized that 14C dating was not possible:
BI-POINTED BIFACE RECOVERED FROM HUEYATLACO
http://bandstex.globat.com/bipointed%20hueyatlaco.tif
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