Man and the Glacial PeriodWright, G. Frederick (George Frederick)
History
Man and the Glacial Period
Wright, G. Frederick (George Frederick)
Glacial epoch; Prehistoric peoples
The direction of these grooves is a little south of west, corresponding
to that of the axis of the lake. This is nearly at right angles to the
course of the ice-scratches on the summit of the water-shed south of
this, between the lake and the Ohio River. The reason for this change
of direction can readily be seen by a little attention to the physical
geography. The highlands to the south of the lake rise about seven
hundred feet above it. When the Ice period was at its climax and overran
these highlands, the ice took its natural course at right angles to
the terminal moraine and flowed southeast according to the direction
indicated by the scratches on the summit; but when the supply of ice was
not sufficient to overrun the highlands, the obstruction in front turned
the course and the resultant was a motion towards Toledo and the Maumee
Valley, where in the vicinity of Fort Wayne an extensive terminal moraine
was formed.
[Illustration: Fig. 35.--Same as the preceding. (Courtesy of M. C.
Younglove.)]
The much-mooted question of a succession of glacial epochs finds the
most of its supporting facts in the portion of the glaciated area lying
west of Pennsylvania. That there have been frequent oscillations of the
glacial front over this area is certain. But it is a question whether
the glacial deposits south of this distinct line of moraine hills are so
different from those to the north of it as to necessitate the supposition
of two entirely distinct glacial epochs. This can be considered most
profitably here.
The following are among the points with reference to which the phenomena
south of the moraine just delineated differ from those north of the line:
1. The glacial deposits to the south appear to be distributed more
uniformly than those to the north. To the north the drift is often
accumulated in hills, and is dotted over with kettle-holes, while to the
south these are pretty generally absent. Any one travelling upon a line
of railroad which traverses these two portions of the glaciated area as
indicated upon our map can easily verify these statements.
2. The amount of glacial erosion seems to be much less south of the line
of moraine hills delineated than north of them. Still, glacial striæ
are found, almost everywhere, close down to the extreme margin of the
glaciated area.
3. The gravel deposits connected with the drainage of the Glacial period
are much less abundant south of the so-called "terminal moraine of the
second Glacial period" than they are north of it. South of this moraine
the water deposits attributed to the Glacial period are of such fine
silt as to indicate slow-moving currents over a gentle low slope of the
surface.
4. The glacial deposits to the south are more deeply coloured than those
to the north, showing that they have been longer exposed to oxidising
agencies. Even the granitic boulders show the marks of greater age south
of this line, being disintegrated to a greater extent than those to the
north.
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