A database of Holocene nearshore marine mollusc shell geochemistry from the Northeast Pacific

• DOI: 10.5194/essd-2021-301
• Publication Date: 2021-10-12T12:44:50Z
• Authors: Hannah M. Palmer; Veronica Padilla ...; Roxanne M. W. Banker; Jessica R. Bean
• Keywords: δ18O

Abstract. The shells of marine invertebrates can serve as high-resolution records oceanographic and atmospheric change through time. In particular, oxygen carbon isotope analyses nearshore calcifiers that grow by accretion over their lifespans provide seasonal environmental conditions. Archaeological shell middens generated Indigenous communities along the Northeast Pacific coast contain harvested multiple seasons for millennia. These middens, well archival modern shells, have potential to multi-site, archives conditions throughout Holocene. A significant volume data from archaeological exists, yet is separately published in archaeological, geochemical, paleoceanographic journals has not been comprehensively analyzed examine Here, we compiled a database previously archival, molluscs North American (32° N 50° N). This includes 550 modern, sub-fossil 8880 years before present (BP) present, which there are 4,845 total δ13C 5,071 δ18O measurements. Shell dating sampling strategies vary among studies (1–118 samples per shell) significantly journal discipline. Data various bivalves gastropod species, with Mytilus spp. being most commonly taxon. novel be used investigate changes sea surface including warm-cool oscillations, heat waves, upwelling intensity, provides calcite values compared vast collections offshore foraminifera sediment cores. By utilizing geochemical midden museum rather than new specimens, future scientific research reduce or omit alteration destruction culturally valued specimens sites. set publicly available PANGAEA at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.932671 (Palmer et al., 2021).