Prehistoric and Euroamerican Archaeology of Elk River, Minnesota: Current Knowlege and Probability Modeling

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During the Wisconsin ice age, beginning some 75,000 years ago, massive glaciers pushed into Minnesota carrying sands, gravels and rocks from far north with them. Some 12,000 years ago, the climate of Minnesota became warmer and drier. The glaciers began to melt and as they melted, cracks formed and substantial rivers and streams of melt -water were created. These flows deposit layers of gravel and sand to create the Anoka Sand Plain. Elk River lies within this sand plain as is clearly evident by its very sandy soils and thick deposits of pure sand and gravel. These sandy soils have defined vegetation types and agricultural uses in the area.` The environmental setting of Elk River for past peoples has been defined not just by geology, but also by climate. The climate of Minnesota has experienced minor, but important, variations in the past 10,000 years, and the importance of these variations is amplified in the Elk River area. Elk River lies within a transitional zone and currently sits on the boundary between prairie, oak savannah and deciduous forest habitats. Relatively minor shifts in temperature and wetness cause these habitats to shift, and the vegetation types of Elk River have changed significantly in the past." Date I Elk River Climate and Vegetation 10,000-6000 B.C. i Open forest with a mix of conifers and _-- deciduous trees, and substantial sections of prairie. i 6000-2000 B.C. Prairie during a warmer drier period. 2000 B.C. - A.D. Oak Savannah and Deciduous Forest during a 300 cooler, wetter period. Some prairie may also have been present. A.D. 300-present Mixture of Oak Savannah, Deciduous Forest and Prairie. Cultural Periods Paleoindian Archaic Archaic, Initial Woodland Terminal Woodland, Early EuroAmerican, EuroAmerican. The geology and changing climate of Elk River create limitations in modeling for archaeological sites. The sandy soils and relatively flat terrain allow for and frequent changes in the course of rivers and streams and the placement of lakes. Changing climate has brought with it changing vegetation. While we are reasonably certain that there have been 20