PRINCIPLES OF GEOARCHAEOLOGY

by Waters, Michael R.

• ISBN13: 9780816517701
• ISBN10: 0816517703
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-12-01
• Publisher: Univ of Arizona Pr

Summary

Geoarchaeological studiescan significantly enhance interpretations of human prehistory by allowing archaeologists to decipher from sediments and soils the effects of earth processes on the evidence of human activity. While a number of previous books have provided broad geographic and temporal treatments of geoarchaeology, this new volume presents a single author's view intended for North American archaeologists. Waters deals with those aspects of geoarchaeology--stratigraphy, site formation processes, and landscape reconstruction--most fundamental to archaeology, and he focuses on the late Quaternary of North America, permitting in-depth discussions of the concepts directly applicable to that research. Assuming no prior geologic knowledge on the part of the reader, Waters provides a background in fundamental geological processes and the basic tools of geoarchaeology. He then proceeds to relate specific physical processes, microenvironments, deposits, and landforms associated with riverine, desert, lake, glacial, cave, coastal, and other environments to archaeological site formation, location, and context. This practical volume illustrates the contributions of geoarchaeological investigations and demonstrates the need to make such studies an integral part of archaeological research. The text is enhanced by more than a hundred line drawings and photographs. CONTENTS 1. Research Objectives of Geoarchaeology 2. Geoarchaeological Foundations: The Archaeological Site Matrix: Sediments and Soils / Stratigraphy / The Geoarchaeological Interpretation of Sediments, Soils, and Stratigraphy 3. Alluvial Environments: Streamflow / Sediment Erosion, Transport, and Deposition / Alluvial Environments: Rivers, Arroyos, Terraces, and Fans / Alluvial Landscapes Evolution and the Archaeological Record / Alluvial Landscape Reconstruction 4. Eolian Environments: Sediment Erosion, Transport, and Deposition / Sand Dunes / Loess and Dust / Stone Pavements / Eolian Erosion / Volcanic Ash (Tephra) 5. Springs, Lakes, Rockshelters, and Other Terrestrial Environments: Springs / Lakes / Slopes / Glaciers / Rockshelters and Caves 6. Coastal Environments: Coastal Processes / Late Quaternary Sea Level Changes / Coastal Environments / Coastal Landscape Evolution and the Archaeological Record / Coastal Landscape Reconstruction 7. The Postburial Disturbance af Archaeological Site Contexts: Cryoturbation / Argilliturbation / Graviturbation / Deformation / Other Physical Disturbances / Floralturbation / Faunalturbation 8. Geoarchaeological Research Appendix A: Geoarchaeological Studies Illustrating the Effects of Fluvial Landscape Evolution on the Archaeological Record Appendix B: Geoarchaeological Studies Illustrating Site-Specific Synchronic and Diachronic Alluvial Landscape Reconstructions Appendix C: Geoarchaeological Studies Illustrating Regional Synchronic and Diachronic Alluvial Landscape Reconstructions

Table of Contents

List of Figures	xi	(6)
List of Tables	xvii	(2)
Preface	xix	(4)
Acknowledgments	xxiii
1. Geoarchaeology	3	(12)
Research Objectives of Geoarchaeology	7	(5)
Conclusion	12	(3)
2. Geoarchaeological Foundations	15	(100)
The Archaeological Site Matrix: Sediments and Soils	15	(45)
Stratigraphy	60	(28)
The Geoarchaeological Interpretation of Sediments, Soils, and Stratigraphy	88	(26)
Conclusion	114	(1)
3. Alluvial Environments	115	(70)
Streamflow	116	(4)
Sediment Erosion, Transport, and Deposition	120	(3)
Alluvial Environments: Rivers, Arroyos, Terraces, and Fans	123	(34)
Alluvial Landscape Evolution and the Archaeological Record	157	(6)
Alluvial Landscape Reconstruction	163	(20)
Conclusion	183	(2)
4. Eolian Environments	185	(30)
Sediment Erosion, Transport, and Deposition	185	(2)
Sand Dunes	187	(15)
Loess and Dust	202	(2)
Stone Pavements	204	(4)
Eolian Erosion	208	(2)
Volcanic Ash (Tephra)	210	(3)
Conclusion	213	(2)
5. Springs, Lakes, Rockshelters, and Other Terrestrial Environments	215	(34)
Springs	215	(5)
Lakes	220	(10)
Slopes	230	(4)
Glaciers	234	(6)
Rockshelters and Caves	240	(7)
Conclusion	247	(2)
6. Coastal Environments	249	(42)
Coastal Processes	249	(2)
Late Quaternary Sea Level Changes	251	(3)
Coastal Environments: Erosional, Submerged, and Depositional Coastlines	254	(8)
Coastal Landscape Evolution and the Archaeological Record	262	(18)
Coastal Landscape Reconstruction	280	(10)
Conclusion	290	(1)
7. The Postburial Disturbance of Archaeological Site Contexts	291	(26)
Cryturbation	292	(7)
Argilliturbation	299	(2)
Graviturbation	301	(3)
Deformation	304	(2)
Other Physical Disturbance Processes	306	(1)
Floralturbation	306	(3)
Faunalturbation	309	(7)
Conclusion	316	(1)
8. Geoarchaeological Research	317	(4)
Appendix A. Geoarchaeological Studies Illustrating the Effects of Fluvial Landscape Evolution on the Archaeological Record	321	(2)
Appendix B. Geoarchaeological Studies Illustrating Site-Specific Synchronic and Diachronic Alluvial Landscape Reconstruction	323	(2)
Appendix C. Geoarchaeological Studies Illustrating Regional Synchronic and Diachronic Alluvial Landscape Reconstructions	325	(2)
References	327	(62)
Index	389