Paleoecological evidence of pre-contact human impacts on fire and vegetation in northern New York State, U.S.A.

Author

Roger William Brown, University of Tennessee

Date of Award

8-2002

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Geography

Major Professor

Sally F. Hom

Committee Members

Kenneth Orvis, Caol Harden, Paul A. Delcourt

Abstract

The impacts of indigenous populations on fire and vegetation dynamics in North America prior to European contact are the subject of considerable debate. They have been overlooked by many researchers, but possibly given more emphasis than is due by others. Interpretations suffer from preconceptions regarding the nature of Native American activities and landscapes, shortages of paleoecological and archaeological data from key locations, and a tendency for researchers to not fully integrate available information. This study investigates the influence of pre-Contact inrugenous populations on fire and vegetation dynamics, using paleoecological evidence from lake sediment studies together with archaeological data.

Recommended Citation

Brown, Roger William, "Paleoecological evidence of pre-contact human impacts on fire and vegetation in northern New York State, U.S.A.. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2002.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/6206