Neither Mann's nor Shakunn's nor Marcotte's work concerned themselves with causes. The three of them simply showed that the current temperature dynamics are extremely unlikely to have occurred at any time in the past period each studied.
Looking into this a bit we find:
The Earth's axis rotates (precesses) just as a spinning top does. The period of precession is
about 26,000 years. Therefore, the North Celestial Pole will not always be point towards the same starfield. Precession is caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth.
Precession of the Earth's Axis
So, if the last precessional warm peak was 20,000 years ago, we have another 6,000 before we hit another one. Besides which, what do you believe there is about the effects of the Earth's precession that PRECLUDES AGW? Why can't both be taking place? Because... they are.