--> Abstract: Prehistoric Petroleum Production in Eastern North America, by J. M. Adovasio and R. E. Taylor; #90937 (1998).

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Abstract: Prehistoric Petroleum Production in Eastern North America

ADOVASIO, J. M., Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute; J. E. THOMAS, Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute; and R. E. TAYLOR, University of California at Riverside

Abstract

While 27 August 1859 is usually considered to represent the birth of the petroleum industry in both North America, generally, and the world at large, extensive historic data indicates that oil exploitation minimally extends back into earn historic and protohistoric times in eastern North America. Additionally, archaeological excavations conducted sporadically throughout the twentieth century, and even earlier, suggest the possibility that the aboriginal use of petroleum may date well into the Woodland period, ca. 1000 BC to 1600+. Recent AMS dates of timbers from aboriginal oil collection pits in Pennsylvania conclusively indicate that the extraction of oil by Native Americans can be confidently attributed to 480 + 15 BP which may be calibrated with a 2 sigma (95.4%) confidence interval to AD 1415 to 1440. This is presently the oldest documented systematic use of petroleum in eastern North America and provides the baseline as of 1997 for the actual nascence of the petroleum industry. Alternative scenarios are offered for the socio-technic and ideo-technic contexts of native American petroleum utilization.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90937©1998 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah