Abstract - Chronology of the Beaver Creek Shelter, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Martin, James E., Alex, Robert A. and Benton, Rachel C.. 1993. Chronology of the Beaver Creek Shelter, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.

Abstract

In Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, the succession of sediments in the Beaver Creek Shelter represents the most complete Holocene section known in the Black Hills. Twenty-two stratigraphic levels have been discovered extending through 4.77 meters of interbedded, poorly consolidated breccias primarily formed by rock fall, sandstones, and siltstones. Within these sediments occur plant, gastropod, vertebrate, and archaeological remains; abundant charcoal is scattered throughout the deposit, although it may be concentrated in discrete layers or in archaeological features. Enough charcoal was obtained for radiocarbon dating. The dates were provided through the courtesy of Wind Cave National Park, Richard Klukas, Research Biologist.