HUMAN ADAPTATION AT THE PLEISTOCENE HOLOCENE BOUNDARY IN WESTERN CANADA, 11,000-BP TO 9000-BP/

Most of western Canada was covered by ice until about 12.000 BP. Envir onments suitable for human habitation were established by about 11,500 BP. The earliest known human occupations date to about 10,700 BP. Par a-glacial processes may have destroyed most early sites. Post-glacial colonization occurred from the south. Only 14 archaeological sites con tain radiocarbon dates earlier than 9000 BP. The limited data From the se sites suggest initial exploitation of big game in open environments until about 10,000 BP. Sites dating between 10,000 and 9000 BP are kn own mainly from the southern interior plains, and document a continuat ion of bison hunting. Adaptive strategies in early boreal forests are still unknown. (C) 1998 INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.