Survival of mammoths (Mammuthus sp.) into the Late Pleistocene in Southwestern British Columbia (Vancouver Island), Canada

Abstract

As part of a larger project identifying and directly radiocarbon dating Late Pleistocene megafaunal remains in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, we have confirmed the identity of many newly identified mammoth ( Mammuthus sp.) specimens ( n = 32) from Vancouver Island in Southwestern B.C. We undertook radiocarbon dating on all specimens and were able to obtain dates (due to preservation) on 16 of these remains, including redating a previously dated mammoth using newer radiocarbon extraction methods. The mammoth dates span a wide range, from >47 500 to 18 000 radiocarbon years B.P. (uncalibrated). These later new dates support other lines of evidence for portions of Vancouver Island remaining ice-free until well into the Fraser Glaciation.