RADIOCARBON-DATED SUBFOSSIL STOMACH OIL DEPOSITS FROM PETREL NESTING SITES - NOVEL PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECORDS FROM CONTINENTAL ANTARCTICA

Radiocarbon dating is an important tool for reconstructing Late Quater nary paleoenvironmental history of the Antarctic continent. Because of the scarcity of datable material, new suitable substances are welcome d. We present here novel paleoenvironmental records-subfossil stomach oil deposits (mumiyo). This waxy organic material is found in petrel b reeding colonies, especially in those of snow petrels, Pagodroma nivea . The substance is formed by accumulation and solidification of stomac h oil regurgitated for the purpose of defense. We demonstrate and outl ine the usefulness and limitations of C-14 dating mumiyo for determini ng dates of local ice retreat, moraines and petrel occupation history.