Modeling soil-geomorphic associations and Archaic stratigraphic sequences in the lower Ohio River valley

Stafford, C. Russell

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2004.01.004

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Previous researchers have suggested that many lowland sites are no longer visible today (Coe, 1964;Seeman & Prufer, 1982;Stafford, 2004;Monaghan & Lovis, 2005;Clevis et al, 2006;Seramur et al, 2007;Guccione, 2008). Previous researchers have suggested that many lowland sites are no longer visible today (Coe, 1964;Seeman & Prufer, 1982;Stafford, 2004;Monaghan & Lovis, 2005;Clevis et al, 2006;Seramur et al, 2007;Guccione, 2008).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Bedrock‐Controlled Channel Migration Can Structure Selective Preservation of Archaeological Sites: Implications for Modeling Paleoindian Settlement

Herrmann

2015

Geoarchaeology

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Although Paleoindian sites in Indiana, USA, are commonly located on late Wisconsin (Last Glacial Maximum) outwash terraces, drainage basin development since deglaciation often obscures the visibility of such sites on flood plains by either burying them under alluvium or destroying them through erosion. Significant clusters of Paleoindian and Early Archaic sites, however, have been identified proximal to the modern White River channel in central Indiana on what is mapped as “floodplain.” These site cluster locations are patterned. They typically occur within bedrock‐controlled river reaches but are rare along unconfined meandering reaches. Subsurface reconnaissance and chronology indicate that despite the fact that they often flood, portions of the so‐called flood plains within bedrock‐confined reaches are actually terraces constructed of late Wisconsin outwash with minimal overbank sedimentation. Terrace preservation in these settings is a result of bedrock structure that protects older sediments from lateral erosion and differentially preserves archaeological sites near the modern channel in bedrock‐controlled reaches. Comparisons of archaeological sites within bedrock‐controlled segments of the White River to those in unconfined meandering segments suggests that significant numbers of Paleoindian and Early Archaic sites may be missing from river settings across the midcontinent. These findings demonstrate that bedrock channel controls are important to recognize when assessing prehistoric settlement distributions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Bedrock‐Controlled Channel Migration Can Structure Selective Preservation of Archaeological Sites: Implications for Modeling Paleoindian Settlement

Herrmann

2015

Geoarchaeology

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“…The apparent absence of additional sites may be attributed to natural fluvial sedimentation processes, which may have buried sites and resulted in the poor representation of Archaic sites in alluvial valleys (Stafford, 2004). Geoarchaeological investigations of dynamic floodplain environments reveal the inadequacy of surficial techniques in recording Archaic sites and studying settlement patterns in this period (Wiant et al, 1983;Hajic, 1993;Bettis and Hajic, 1995;Mandel, 1995;Stafford and Creasman, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Frenchman's Bend (16OU259) and Watson Brake (16OU175) also lie near a relict channel of the Arkansas River (Saunders et al, , 1997(Saunders et al, , 2005Saunders, 2004). The paleohydrography of alluvial sediments and landforms may, therefore, aid in predicting the location of and subsequently identifying buried archaeological sites in this region, as well as assessing the likelihood of their preservation (Saucier, 1981;Guccione et al, 1998;Stafford, 2004). Additional coring directed toward refining our current knowledge of this Arkansas River paleochannel may aid in the identification of additional Middle Archaic mound sites in the Tensas Basin.…”

Section: Arkansas River Depositsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, microartifacts often constitute a relatively large proportion of the cultural material at archaeological sites and provide valuable information for distinguishing natural from cultural deposits, as well as identifying site-formation processes (Butzer, 1978;Fladmark, 1982;Hull, 1987;Stein and Teltser, 1989;Dunnell and Stein, 1989;Rosen, 1993;Stafford, 1995Stafford, , 2004Sherwood, 2001, p. 328). The analysis of particles larger than 0.5 mm within cores 52 and 53 corroborates the evidence provided by qualitative comparisons, which suggest the culturally constructed ridge represented in core 52 does not extend as far south as the location of core 53.…”

Section: Microartifactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alluvial geoarchaeology of a Middle Archaic Mound complex in the lower Mississippi Valley, U.S.A.

et al. 2006

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The Nolan site (16MA201), 14 C dated 5200-4800 cal yr B.P. and located in the Tensas Basin of northeastern Louisiana, is the only recorded Middle Archaic mound site in the alluvial valley of the Mississippi River. Alluvial deposition has buried the Nolan site under 3-4 m of Holocene sediment, prohibiting traditional excavation of the site. Because data are unattainable by other means, soil coring and subsequent stratigraphic and sedimentological analyses permit reconstruction of the natural and cultural depositional history of the Nolan site. The sedimentary characteristics of basal deposits within cores suggest the presence of an Arkansas River paleochannel immediately adjacent to the site. Chronostratigraphic data show this channel was no longer active by ca. 5200 cal yr B.P. Contrary to existing models, the Arkansas River Meander Belt 4 and the Mississippi River Meander Belt 4 are not the same age. Microartifact and losson-ignition analyses of sediment identify natural versus cultural strata and permit the identification of artificial constructions-including four earthen mounds and one earthen ridge-at the Nolan site. Overbank sediments attributed to a mapped Mississippi River Stage 4 meander belt are dated ca. 4800-3800 cal yr B.P. This age is considerably younger than previous estimates and demonstrates the existing chronological models for Mississippi River meander belts must be carefully assessed. Core analyses also reveal flood-related crevasse splays deposited throughout the Tensas Basin after the occupation of the Nolan site. These deposits serve as relative chronological indicators and aid in stratigraphic assessments of the Nolan site. Reconstruction of the earthworks and their stratigraphic context reveals one of the largest and earliest Middle Archaic mound sites in North America.

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“…In addition, development along coastlines is on the rise and even the small islands of the Georgia coast are not immune from residential and commercial building. Therefore, time is at a premium for this research and it is imperative that more work of this sort be carried out soon before the record is lost (see Robinson et al, 2010 (Rossignol, 1992;Stafford, 1995Stafford, , 2004Dodonov, A.W. Kandel, A.N.…”

Section: Implications For Archaeology Ecology and Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Life among the tides : recent archaeology on the Georgia Bight : proceedings of the Sixth Caldwell Conference, St. Catherines Island, Georgia, May 20-22, 2011.

Thomas¹,

Thompson²,

Alexander³

et al. 2013

Anthropol. Pap. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.

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Modeling soil-geomorphic associations and Archaic stratigraphic sequences in the lower Ohio River valley

Cited by 9 publications

References 17 publications

How Bedrock‐Controlled Channel Migration Can Structure Selective Preservation of Archaeological Sites: Implications for Modeling Paleoindian Settlement

How Bedrock‐Controlled Channel Migration Can Structure Selective Preservation of Archaeological Sites: Implications for Modeling Paleoindian Settlement

Alluvial geoarchaeology of a Middle Archaic Mound complex in the lower Mississippi Valley, U.S.A.

Life among the tides : recent archaeology on the Georgia Bight : proceedings of the Sixth Caldwell Conference, St. Catherines Island, Georgia, May 20-22, 2011.

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