Silver Creek

Silver Creek

UT: SUMMIT CO.: 1951 M.

General Description.—Kurtén and Anderson 1980: In small basin just east of crest of the Wasatch Range, 32 km E of Salt Lake City. This is 366 m above the highest level of glacial Lake Bonneville, 22.5 km E of the eastern shoreline. Wetter than today (a marsh) within a grassland with nearby wooded areas. Miller 1976: From a restricted area immediately NW Jct. Utah Hwy 40 and I-80, ca. 5 mi N Park City and 20 mi E Salt Lake City. Site is a small, bowl-like depression within a basin ca. 7 mi long and 5 mi wide. The highest elevations in the surrounding mountains have a maximum slightly more than 9,000 ft.

Age.—Miller 1976: Radiocarbon date on bone of >40,000 BP. Probably Late Sangamon or Early Wisconsin. 18,150 ± 950 (UCR-331) (Agenbroad 1984 citing Madsen et al. 1976)— to see if same exact site.㬏 Nov 91— not, since Nelson and Madsen 1987 give as older than 40 ka.

Paleoenvironment.—Miller 1976: Almost all small mammals currently in the area today; thus, existing temperatures were apparently little different than todays. "No evidence, direct or indirect, suggest glacial conditions during Silver Creek time" (p. 421).

Comments.—Nelson and Madsen (1987) note that the site is 366 m above the maximum elevation of Lake Bonneville.

Publications.—(Agenbroad 1984; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Madsen et al. 1976; (Nelson and Madsen 1987); (*W. Miller 1976).

Fauna.—

AMPHIBIA

• Rana cf. pipiens Miller 1976;

AVES

• Anas platyrhynchos Miller 1976;
• Anas ? crecca Miller 1976;
• Cf. Centrocercus Miller 1976;

MAMMALIA

• Sorex palustris Miller 1976;
• Glossotherium cf. harlani Miller 1976;
• Brachylagus cf. idahoensis Miller 1976;
• Lepus cf. townsendii Miller 1976;
• Spermophilus cf. armatus Miller 1976;
• Tamias minimus Miller 1976;
• Thomomys talpoides Miller 1976;
• Peromyscus maniculatus Miller 1976;
• Phenacomys intermedius Miller 1976;
• Microtus montanus Miller 1976;
• Ondatra sp. Miller 1976;
• Erethizon ? dorsatum Miller 1976;
• Canis ? latrans Miller 1976;
• Canis cf. dirus Miller 1976;
• Mustela ? erminea Miller 1976;
• Mustela vison Miller 1976;
• Taxidea taxus Miller 1976;
• Smilodon cf. fatalis Miller 1976;
• Lynx cf. canadensis Miller 1976;
• Equus sp. (large) Miller 1976;
• Equus ? conversidens Miller 1976;
• Camelops cf. hesternus Miller 1976;
• Antilocapra cf. americanus Miller 1976;
• Bison ? latifrons Miller 1976;
• Mammuthus cf. columbi Miller 1976;

Last Update: 20 December 1998.