Radiocarbon-Dated Subfossil Stomach Oil Deposits from Petrel Nesting Sites: Novel Paleoenvironmental Records from Continental Antarctica

Abstract

Radiocarbon dating is an important tool for reconstructing Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental history of the Antarctic continent. Because of the scarcity of datable material, new suitable substances are welcomed. We present here novel paleoenvironmental records-—subfossil stomach oil deposits (mumiyo). This waxy organic material is found in petrel breeding colonies, especially in those of snow petrels, Pagodroma nivea. The substance is formed by accumulation and solidification of stomach oil regurgitated for the purpose of defense. We demonstrate and outline the usefulness and limitations of 14C dating mumiyo for determining dates of local ice retreat, moraines and petrel occupation history.