This thesis analyzes Donax variabilis from the Burns Site (900 to 1600 CE), located on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station along the Atlantic Coast of Central Florida. Samples were taken along growth lines of 12 Donax variabilis shells from multiple levels of the site. Results show high δ18O values, particularly in the terminal edge of shell growth, indicating cooler conditions at time of harvest. Estimation of temperature from δ18O values provides additional evidence that the D. variabilis sampled in this study were harvested during the autumn or winter. This indicates season of site occupation during these seasons, though occupation during other seasons cannot be ruled out. Sites in northern Florida display similar season of harvest for D. variabilis, potentially indicating that this is a seasonally exploited resource. Additionally, comparing modern sea surface temperatures with those during site occupation shows the time period during which the Burns site was occupied had a similar average temperature with that of modern day, but cooler minimum and maximum temperatures.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd2023-1248 |
| Date | 01 January 2024 |
| Creators | Boal, Zachary |
| Publisher | STARS |
| Source Sets | University of Central Florida |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024 |
| Rights | In copyright |
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