Archeology of Alaska Glaciers and Snowfields Phase II

Dixon 0222490拟议中的研究将通过收集和比较新的实地数据，完善和测试一个初步的地理信息系统（GIS）模型，该模型旨在确定具有高度可能性的地点，人类起源的考古文物将出现在山区冰川和冰原上。初步研究表明，可以使用这种方法确定这些地点，这种方法综合利用了社会/文化、生物、遥感和地质数据。 由于目前北极变暖的速度很高，冰川和冰块正在以前所未有的速度融化。 预计在解冻后的地区将暴露出越来越古老和重要的文物、古生物和其他材料。 据估计，世界陆地表面的10%被常年积雪、冰川和冰原覆盖。 被锁在这些环境中的有机遗骸大部分尚未被探索。 在这些地区的初步工作中获得的结果包括恢复稀有和独特的文物，可能会对我们理解人类殖民和适应做出重大贡献。 全球变暖的明显加速，以及随之而来的大陆冰的融化，迫切需要开发在新暴露的材料分解或以其他方式破坏之前定位和保存这些冰冻遗骸的方法。 拟议的研究解决了这一关键问题。

Dixon0222490The proposed research will refine and test, through collection of and comparison with new field data, a preliminary Geographic Information Systems (GIS) model designed to identify locales having a high likelihood that human-derived archeological artifacts will surface on mountain glaciers and icefields. Preliminary research has demonstrated that such locales can be identified using this method, which utilizes a combination of social/cultural, biological, remote sensing and geologic data. Glaciers and ice patches are melting at an unprecedented rate, because of the current high rate of arctic warming. It is anticipated that increasingly older and significant artifacts, paleontological and other materials will be exposed in the resulting thawed areas. An estimated 10% of the world's land surface is covered by perennial snow, glaciers and icefields. Organic remains locked within these environments remain largely unexplored. Results obtained during preliminary work on these regions include recovery of rare and unique artifacts that can potentially make significant contributions to our understanding of human colonization and adaptation. The apparent acceleration of global warming, and the consequent melting of continental ice, creates an urgent need to develop the means to locate and preserve such frozen remains before the newly exposed materials decompose or are otherwise destroyed. The proposed research addresses this crucial issue.