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1980s focusing on the origin of the Mima   1890). On the other hand, the Mima mound   tion: Geological Society of America Special Paper
                                                                                  490, p. 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1130/2012.2490(00).
         mounds within periglacial settings, conclud-  controversy cautions that sometimes research-  Logan, R.L., and Walsh, T.J., 2009, Mima Mounds
         ing that such a model was insufficient for   ers may be biased by their specialty. To   Formation and Their Implications for Climate
         explaining the  Puget  Lowland  mounds and   advance, we must be prepared to consider   Change:  Northwest  Scientific  Association,  81st
         other sites (Washburn, 1988). With the abun-  data beyond our field of expertise and inte-  Annual Meeting, p. 38–39.
         dance of competing models, some have pro-  grate it into our own.      Paeth, R.C., 1967, Depositional Origin of the Mima
         posed a polygenetic approach, yet even these                             Mounds [M.S. thesis]: Corvallis, Oregon, Ore-
                                                                                  gon State University, 61 p.
         models can be based on a dominant theme   REFERENCES CITED             Pope, I.E., Pringle, P.T., and Harris, M., 2020,
         augmented by lesser models (such as the   Barnes, G.W., 1879, The hillocks or mound forma-  Investigating the Late-Glacial Tanwax Flood—
         Dalquest-Sheffer–based polygenetic model of   tions of San Diego, California: American Natu-  A Lithologic  Study of Sediments in Selected
         Johnson and Horwath Burnham, 2012). Even   ralist, v.  13, no.  9, p.  565–571,  https://doi.org/   Mounded Terraces in the Puget Lowland: Geo-
                                              10.1086/272405.
                                                                                  logical Society of America Abstracts with Pro-
         so, it remains uncertain if the disparate mound   Berg, A.W., 1990, Formation of Mima mounds: A   grams, v. 52, no. 6, https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/
         fields share a common origin at all, rather   seismic hypothesis: Geology, v.  18, p.  281–284,   2020AM-358073.
         than causes specific to the site.    https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018   Pringle, P.T. and Goldstein, B.S., 2002, Deposits,
          Representing a host of specialties, these   <0281:FOMMAS>2.3.CO;2.      erosional features, and flow characteristics of the
         models continue to fuel a vibrant controversy,   Bretz, J H., 1913, Glaciation of the Puget Sound Re-  late-glacial Tanwax Creek-Ohop Creek Valley
                                                                                  flood—A likely source for sediments composing
                                              gion: Washington Geology Survey Bulletin No.
         exemplifying the Method of Competing   8., 244 p.                        the Mima Mounds, Puget Lowland, Washington
         Hypotheses (Chamberlin, 1890; Elliott and   Chamberlin, T.C., 1890, The method of multiple   [abstract]: Geological Society of America
         Brook, 2007). Based on the proposition that   working hypotheses:  The Journal  of Geology,   Abstracts with Programs, v. 34, no. 5, p. A-89.
         rival models enhance research within a scien-  v. 15, p. 92–96. [Reprinted in Science, 1964, v.   Seifert, C.L., Cox,  R.T.,  Forman,  S.L., Foti, T.L.,
         tific discipline, this method has resulted in   148, no. 3671, p. 754–759, https://www.jstor.org/  Wasklewicz, T.A., and McColgan, A.T., 2009,
                                              stable/1716334.]
                                                                                  Relict nebkhas (pimple mounds) record pro-
         such a fruitful debate for two primary rea-  Dalquest, W.W., and Scheffer, V.B., 1942, The ori-  longed late Holocene drought in the forested re-
         sons. First, the multidisciplinary research   gin of the Mima Mounds of western Washing-  gion of south-central United States: Quaternary
         results in a variety of ideas and enhances cre-  ton: The Journal of Geology, v.  50, p.  68–84,   Research, v. 71, p. 329–339, https://doi.org/ 10.1016/
         ativity, expanding the range of research.   https://doi.org/10.1086/625026.  j.yqres.2009.01.006.
         Conversely, the competing models create a   Elliott, L.P., and Brook, B.W., 2007, Revisiting   Slusher, D.F., 1967, “Pimple mounds” of Louisiana:
                                                                                  Soil Survey Horizons, v. 8, no. 1, p. 3–5, https://
                                              Chamberlin: Multiple working hypotheses for
         check-and-balance system––the expansion of   the 21st century: Bioscience, v. 57, no. 7, p. 608–  doi.org/10.2136/sh1967.1.0003.
         research in one field provides data to be   614, https://doi.org/10.1641/B570708.  Tabbutt, K., 2016, Morphology and spatial charac-
         accounted for in models held in another disci-  Goldstein, B.S., and Pringle, P.T., 2020, The Tanwax-  ter of the Mima Mounds, Thurston County,
         pline, thereby constraining the range of con-  Ohop  Valley  flood  and  debris  flow,  an  Ice  Age   Washington:  Northwest  Scientific  Association,
                                                                                  87th Annual Meeting, p. 91.
         jecture on the mounds’ origins.      flood from the Cascade Range into the southern   Washburn, A.L., 1988, Mima mounds—An evalua-
                                              Puget Lowland and likely source of sediments for
          This equilibrium of enhancing geologic   the Mima Mounds [abstract]: Geological Society   tion of proposed origins with special reference to
         thought and constraining speculation gen-  of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 52.   the Puget Lowlands: Washington Division of
         erates a dynamic mode of inquiry. The ready   https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2020AM-358056.  Geology and Earth Resources Report of Investi-
         exchange of information can lead to a rev-   Johnson, D.L., and Horwath Burnham, J.L., 2012,   gations 29, 53 p.
         olutionary development of a debate. Such a   Introduction: Overview of concepts, definitions,   Manuscript received 18 dec. 2020
                                              and principles of soil mound studies, in Horwath
         position is commendable to any controversy   Burnham, J.L., and Johnson, D.L., eds., Mima   revised Manuscript received 23 Mar. 2021
         because it prevents stagnation (Chamberlin,   Mounds: The Case for Polygenesis and Bioturba-  Manuscript accepted 25 Mar. 2021































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