Based on his work, he estimates that the big dunes have been around 5,000 years. Running concentrated his research on a sand dune called Flint Stone Hill on the banks of the Souris River. There he uncovered an uninterrupted soil sequence dating back more than 10,000 years. Running and his students brought back numerous soil samples from the site, most of which will be analyzed in UW-Eau Claire labs. Eventually, Running and his students will use this data to reconstruct how, why and when the dunes formed.
Sand dunes are good markers for what's going on.
This could be a model for how global warming will affect the Great Plains landscape. Initially, Running said he was curious as to the age of the dunes, specifically wanting to know if the archeological sites discovered in the area were buried beneath the dunes or adjacent to them. The people who came later chose to live in areas where dunes and adjacent wetlands are present. Running and the students who participated in the summer work will present their findings at various conferences in and outside of Wisconsin during the coming academic year. Running also said he hopes to bring additional students to the site to continue the research.