Earth Sciences and Archaeology

by Goldberg, Paul; Holliday, Vance T.; Ferring, C. Reid

• ISBN13: 9780306462795
• ISBN10: 0306462796
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-12-01
• Publisher: Plenum Pub Corp

Summary

Earth Sciences and Archaeology brings together contributions from an experienced group of archaeologists and geologists whose common objective is to present thorough and current reviews of the diverse ways in which methods from the earth sciences can contribute to archaeological research. Many areas of research are addressed here, including artifact analysis and sourcing, landscape reconstruction and site formation analysis, soil micromorphology and geophysical exploration of buried sites. Archaeology has benefited from geological methods in many ways in recent decades. However, in the past ten to twenty years, this informal collaboration between geologists and archaeologists has grown into a formal integration of earth science and archaeology on a significant scale. This book allows the contributors to assess where we are in terms of interdisciplinary research, which approaches work best in specific situations, and where this collaborative approach should progress to in the future.

Table of Contents

I. BACKGROUND
Quaternary Geoscience In Archaeology	3	(34)
Vance T. Holliday
Introduction	3	(2)
Definitions and Boundaries	5	(8)
The Pliocene-Pleistocene Boundary	11	(1)
The Pleistocene-Holocene Boundary	12	(1)
Stratigraphic Subdivisions	13	(1)
Glacial-Interglacial Cycles	13	(3)
Causes of Quaternary Climate Cycles	16	(4)
Reconstructing Quaternary Environments: Data versus Models	20	(2)
Discussion and Conclusions	22	(6)
Acknowledgments	27	(1)
References	28	(9)
A Review of Site Formation Processes and Their Relevance to Geoarchaeology	37	(18)
Julie K. Stein
Introduction	37	(1)
History and Definitions of Formation Processes	38	(7)
Definition of Site Formation Analysis	39	(3)
The Unit of Site Formation Analysis	42	(3)
Examples	45	(2)
Conclusion	47	(1)
Acknowledgments	48	(1)
References	48	(7)
II. GEOMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES
Evaluating Causality of Landscape Change: Examples from Alluviation	55	(22)
Charles Frederick
Introduction	55	(2)
Basic Elements of Alluvial Stratigraphic Sequences	57	(7)
The Stratigraphic Sequence	57	(1)
Chronology	58	(3)
Combination Proxies	61	(3)
Evidence Used to Link Causal Factors with Alluviation	64	(5)
Climatic Forcing	65	(1)
Anthropogenic Alluviation	65	(2)
Tectonic Activity	67	(1)
Eustasy	68	(1)
Internal or Endogenic Factors, Geomorphic Thresholds, and Complex Responses	68	(1)
Investigating Causality in Alluviation: Some Examples	69	(2)
Southern Illinois	69	(1)
Southwestern Utah	70	(1)
Colorado Plateau---Northeastern Arizona	71	(1)
Comments	71	(1)
Summary	71	(1)
References	72	(5)
Geoarchaeology in Alluvial Landscapes	77	(30)
C. Reid Ferring
Introduction	77	(3)
Perspectives	78	(1)
Time, Environments, and Fluvial Systems	78	(2)
Fluvial Environments, Geology, and Archaeological Implications	80	(9)
General Factors	80	(1)
Vegetation, Weathering, and Sediment Yield	81	(1)
Channel Patterns and Stream Load	81	(3)
Facies, Architecture, and Alluvial Geomorphology	84	(2)
Alluvial Morphogenesis and Pedogenesis	86	(2)
Alluvial Response to Climatic Change	88	(1)
Geoarchaeological Methods in Fluvial Environments	89	(9)
Stratigraphy	89	(2)
Geochronology	91	(2)
Site Discovery Methods	93	(1)
Excavations and Formation Analyses	94	(2)
Landscapes, Change, and Human Settlements	96	(2)
Conclusions	98	(1)
References	99	(8)
A Geomorphological Approach to Reconstructing Archaeological Settlement Patterns Based on Surficial Artifact Distribution: Replacing Humans on the Landscape	107	(36)
Lisa E. Wells
Introduction	107	(2)
Techniques and Methods	109	(6)
Morphostratigraphy and Allostratigraphy	109	(4)
Chronostratigraphy	113	(1)
Integration of Geomorphology and Archaeological Survey Data: Questions of Scale	114	(1)
Case Studies	115	(21)
Paleolandscapes of the Andean Foothills, Northern Coastal Peru: Reinterpreting Site-Based Surveys	115	(11)
Paleolandscapes of the North Troodos Foothills, Cyprus: Toward an Interdisciplinary Framework	126	(10)
Conclusions: Replacing Humans on the Landscape	136	(1)
Acknowledgments	137	(1)
References	137	(6)
Archaeoseismology: Shaking Out the History of Humans and Earthquakes	143	(30)
Jay Stratton Noller
Using Archaeology to Solve a Paleoseismic Problem	143	(1)
Approaches and Results of Archaeoseismology	144	(15)
When Did the Earthquake Occur	145	(7)
What Did the Earthquake Do?	152	(4)
When's the Next Earthquake?	156	(3)
Case Study: Offset of the Seal Cove Archaeological Site by the San Gregorio Fault	159	(7)
Introduction	159	(1)
Approach: Identify an Archaeological Site on a Fault	160	(1)
Methods: Excavate and Date	161	(1)
Results: Reading between the Fault Lines	162	(3)
Implications of Results from Seal Cove	165	(1)
Closing	166	(1)
Acknowledgments	166	(1)
References	167	(6)
III. SOILS, SEDIMENTS, AND MICROSTRATIGRAPHY
Use and Analysis of Soils by Archaeologists and Geoscientists: A North American Perspective	173	(32)
Rolfe D. Mandel
E. Arthur Bettis III
Introduction	173	(1)
Distinguishing Soil from Sediment	174	(7)
Soils and Archaeological Surveys	181	(4)
Soils and Site Evaluations	185	(5)
Soils and Site Excavations	190	(4)
Summary and Conclusions	194	(1)
Acknowledgments	195	(1)
References	195	(10)
Microfacies Analysis Assisting Archaeological Stratigraphy	205	(36)
Marie-Agnes Courty
Introduction	205	(2)
Basic Concepts and Definitions	207	(2)
Anthropogenic Processes	207	(1)
Archaeological Facies and Facies Patterns	208	(1)
Methodology	209	(8)
Problems	209	(2)
Research Strategy	211	(1)
Sampling	212	(1)
Analytical Procedure	213	(2)
Synchronization with Other Techniques	215	(2)
Formation of Archaeological Strata	217	(15)
General Principles	217	(3)
Dynamics of the Soil Interface	220	(1)
From the Soil Interface to the Archaeological Layer	220	(9)
Stratigraphic Relationships and Three-Dimensional Reconstruction	229	(3)
Implications	232	(3)
Implications for Archaeology	232	(1)
Implications for Soil Science	232	(2)
Implications for Paleoenvironmental Research and Paleoclimatology	234	(1)
Conclusion	235	(1)
References	236	(5)
The Soil Micromorphologist as Team Player: A Multianalytical Approach to the Study of European Microstratigraphy	241	(28)
Richard Macphail
Jill Cruise
Introduction	241	(2)
Methods	243	(4)
Getting the Sampling Right	243	(2)
Multidisciplinary-Analytical Approach	245	(1)
Numerical/Semi-numerical Data Gathering	245	(2)
Research Base	247	(12)
Experimental Findings	247	(12)
Discussion	259	(4)
A Final Cautionary Tale	263	(1)
Conclusions	263	(1)
Acknowledgments	263	(1)
References	264	(5)
Buried Artifacts in Sandy Soils: Techniques for Evaluating Pedoturbation versus Sedimentation	269	(28)
David S. Leigh
Introduction	269	(3)
Equifinality of Pedoturbation and Sedimenttion	271	(1)
Techniques	272	(14)
Geomorphic Setting	272	(2)
Sedimentary Structures, Stratigraphy, and Pedology	274	(3)
Particle Size Analysis	277	(3)
Distribution and Integrity of Cultural Materials and Features	280	(4)
Micromorphology	284	(1)
Dating Techniques	284	(2)
Other Techniques	286	(1)
Case Example	286	(5)
Conclusions	291	(1)
References	291	(6)
IV. SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES
The Role of Petrography in the Study of Archaeological Ceramics	297	(30)
James B. Stoltman
Introduction	297	(2)
Basic Principles of Ceramic Petrography	299	(8)
Qualitative Observations	301	(4)
Quantitative Observations	305	(2)
Archaeological Problems Amenable to Petrographic Analysis	307	(15)
Ceramic Classification	307	(2)
Ceramic Engineering/Functional Considerations	309	(3)
Ceramic Production	312	(7)
Ceramic Exchange	319	(3)
Summary and Conclusions	322	(1)
References	323	(4)
Microartifacts	327	(26)
Sarah C. Sherwood
Introduction	327	(1)
Defining Microartifacts	328	(2)
Theoretical Framework	329	(1)
Methods	330	(8)
Microartifact Identification	331	(1)
Microartifact Recovery	332	(1)
Size Distribution	333	(2)
Microartifact Quantification	335	(2)
Data Representation	337	(1)
Research Questions	338	(8)
Site-Scale Research	338	(6)
Landscape-Scale Research	344	(2)
Conclusions	346	(2)
Acknowledgments	348	(1)
References	348	(5)
Current Practices in Archaeogeophysics: Magnetics, Resistivity, Conductivity, and Ground-Penetrating Radar	353	(32)
Kenneth L. Kvamme
Introduction	353	(2)
Geophysical Prospection Principles	355	(1)
Field Survey Methods	356	(1)
Geophysical Methods and Instruments	356	(9)
Magnetic Methods	356	(2)
Electrical Resistivity	358	(4)
Electromagnetic Conductivity	362	(1)
Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR)	363	(2)
Computer Methods	365	(1)
Case Studies I: Field Methods and Results	366	(9)
Whistling Elk Village, South Dakota	366	(4)
Menoken Village, North Dakota	370	(2)
Sluss Cabin, Kansas	372	(1)
Breed's Hill, Massachusetts	373	(2)
Case Studies II: Advanced Geophysical Data Processing	375	(3)
Navan Fort, Northern Ireland	375	(2)
3D Ranch, Kansas	377	(1)
Whistling Elk Village, South Dakota	378	(1)
Breed's Hill, Massachusetts	378	(1)
Conclusions	378	(3)
Acknowledgments	379	(2)
Glossary	381	(1)
References	382	(3)
V. GEOCHEMICAL METHODS
Beyond 14C Dating: A User's Guide to Long-Range Dating Methods in Archaeology	385	(34)
W. Jack Rink
Introduction	385	(1)
Scope and Current Issues	386	(1)
How to Choose the Right Dating Methods	386	(3)
Radiogenic Isotopes for Dating: Physical Basis	389	(5)
Applications of Radiogenic Isotope Dating	391	(1)
40Ar/39Ar Dating	392	(1)
Closed-System Uranium-Series Dating	392	(1)
Open-System Uranium-Series Dating	393	(1)
Sampling Requirements for Uranium Series and 40Ar/39Ar Dating	393	(1)
Radiation Exposure Dating	394	(14)
Physical Basis of Fission-Track Dating	394	(1)
Applications of Fission-Track Dating	395	(1)
Sampling Requirements for Fission-Track Dating	395	(1)
Physical Basis of ESR and Luminescence Dating	396	(1)
Dosimetry Requirements	397	(2)
Applications of ESR Dating	399	(6)
Applications of Luminescence Dating	405	(3)
Dating Intercomparisons and General Problems with Interpretation of Dating Results	408	(2)
Potential Problems with Various Dating Methods	410	(2)
Summary	412	(1)
Acknowledgments	412	(1)
References	412	(7)
Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes in Soils: Applications for Archaeological Research	419	(30)
Lee C. Nordt
Introduction	419	(3)
Theory of Isotope Pedology	422	(3)
Soil Genesis	422	(1)
Stable C Isotopes of Soil Organic Matter	422	(1)
Stable C and O Isotopes of Pedogenic Carbonate	423	(2)
Field Application of Stable C and O Isotopes in Soils	425	(7)
Radiocarbon Dating and δ13C Depth Distributions	425	(3)
Sources of Soil Carbon	428	(4)
Stable Isotope Laboratory Procedures	432	(2)
Sample Collection	432	(1)
Procedures for Soil Organic Matter	433	(1)
Procedures for Pedogenic Carbonate	433	(1)
Laboratory Comparisons	434	(1)
Geoarchaeology Case Studies	434	(10)
Arid Southwest	434	(3)
Southern Great Plains	437	(3)
East Africa	440	(3)
China	443	(1)
Summary of Case Studies	443	(1)
Conclusions	444	(1)
Acknowledgments	444	(1)
References	445	(4)
Sourcing Lithic Artifacts by Instrumental Analyses	449	(24)
Norman Herz
Introduction	450	(1)
Instrumental Analysis	451	(2)
Determining Provenance of Lithic Materials	453	(11)
Obsidian	453	(2)
Basalt	455	(1)
Granitic and Other Felsic Igneous Rocks	455	(1)
Serpentine and Related Rocks	456	(1)
Marble	456	(1)
Sandstone and Quartzite	456	(3)
Chert and Other Siliceous Sediments	459	(2)
Carbonates	461	(2)
Amber	463	(1)
Summary and Conclusions	464	(2)
References	466	(7)
VI. A PREHISTORIAN'S PERSPECTIVE
A Personal View of Earth Sciences' Contributions to Archaeology	473	(16)
Ofer Bar-Yosef
Opening Remarks	473	(1)
Open-Air Sites and Their Environments---Are We Doing What Is Needed?	474	(2)
What Do We Expect to Learn from Site Formation Processes in Cave and Rockshelters?	476	(4)
Geochronology---Is It Simply a Game of Numbers?
Radiocarbon Chronology	480	(1)
The Preradiocarbon Techniques	481	(3)
Conclusions	484	(1)
References	485	(4)
Index	489