Abstract

Mazama tephra is used as a stratigraphic marker to reconstruct the natural landscape of the Stampede Site; circa 6800 yrs BP. Mazama tephra was deposited throughout southern Alberta during the Hypsithermal, a period when the climate of the Northwestern Plains was warmer and drier than present day. Because the geomorphic systems of the Cypress Hills are sensitive to climatic changes landscape reconstruction during this time interval is critical in furthering our understanding of natural landscape formation and human occupation at the Stampede Site. Geoarchaeological techniques utilized in developing this topographic landscape reconstruction model as well as the results of this study will be presented.