Characteristics of soils along the Elk River, southcentral Tennessee : implications for soil and landscape genesis, and archaeology

Alluvial valleys are of special interest to both pedologists and archaeologists as they present a number of problems and opportunities. Complex fluvial landforms are often difficult to interpret, while river terraces allow the study of soil development with time. Landscape reconstructions can be an integral part of archaeological site interpretation as a byproduct of pedological studies, in which the fluvial history and the age and genesis of soils and landforms are examined. Two terrace sequences were identified along the Elk River, south central Tennessee, with four and two terraces, respectively. Profiles in representative areas of the terraces were described and sampled. Laboratory analyses of soils included particle size analysis, determination of bulk density, pH, and organic carbon. Elemental analysis was performed using a dilute (0.77 M) hydrochloric-nitric acid solution. Iron oxides were extracted using acid oxalate and dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate. Clay mineralogy was determined for a limited number of samples and a scanning electron microscope was used to examine quartz sand grains. Alluvial soils were characterized by discontinuities on the lower terraces and progressive development of morphological properties such as color, texture, and structure moving away from the river. Soil pH and organic carbon tended to decrease with depth and age. Extractable Ba and Mn generally had high surface values that decreased with depth and were also good indicators of buried surface horizons. Other elements fluctuated irregularly in response to imperfect drainage. The landscape was formed as the Elk River adjusted to changes in climate. Morphological properties were the most reliable characteristics in establishing dates for terraces. Particle size analysis also showed time dependent trends with sand contents decreasing and clay contents increasing with age. Upper terraces along the Elk River were at least Pleistocene in age and predated the arrival of humans in North America, restricting archaeological materials to the surface. Lower terraces, formed during the Holocene, were available for human occupation and could contain artifacts deposited and subsequently buried in the soil solum

Recalibrated Chronological Framework for Texas Archaeology-Geoarchaeology

Radiocarbon assays from select archaeological-geoarchaeological research projects within Texas river basins were compiled and recalibrated using the same calibration curve (i.e., INTCAL09). Chronometric data from investigations within the Nueces, San Antonio, Colorado, Brazos, and Trinity River basins were uniformly calibrated to construct a consistent chronological framework. Once calibrated, the analogous chronometric data were then used to compare drainage basins, paleoenvironmental data, and cultural chronologies across Texas and the region. These comparisons revealed four periods (Synchronous Events I–IV) in the Holocene that occurred simultaneously within all of the examined drainage basins. Synchronous Event I dating to 8,750–8,250 cal yr BP (~6800–6300 BC), Synchronous Event II dating to 7,000–6,250 cal yr BP (~5050–4300 BC), and Synchronous Event III 5,250–5,000 cal yr BP (~3300–3050 BC) are apparent periods of instability. While Synchronous Event IV occurs at 1,000–750 cal yr BP (~AD 950–1200) represents a period of stability. These events may be attributed to previously identified widespread climatic changes and seemingly coincide with several transitions in the archaeological record

A pedological investigation of catchment basins below late Minoan period archaeological sites in eastern Crete, Greece

A series of soil pedons were investigated in conjunction with the Kavousi Archaeological Expedition in Eastern Crete, Greece. These soils were located in sediment catchment basins in landscape positions that were topographically below archaeological sites known to have been inhabited in the Late Minoan IIIc Period (1100-900 B.C.). The objective of this investigation was to use soil information in concert with available archaeological and chronological data to reconstruct the Late Pleistocene and Holocene landscape history of Eastern Crete. Four soil pedons were located near the archaeological site of Karphi which is in the Diktean Range north of the Lasithi Plateau. These four pedons included two sinkholes, one alluvial fan deposit, and one buried agricultural terrace. Three soil pedons were also investigated near the archaeological sites of Vronda and Kastro, which are near the village of Kavousi in the Siteia Range. These soil pedons included one buried colluvial deposit, one alluvial fan deposit, and one sinkhole. The soil morphology was described for each pedon, and particular attention was paid to existence of buried soils, discontinuities, and presence of artifacts. Samples were collected from the horizons in each pedon and were subjected to laboratory analysis. These analyses included total carbon content, organic carbon content, pH, CEC, particle size, total element, citrate-dithionite iron, and weak acid extractable element, as well as some selective clay mineralogy. Results from this investigation show that stable soils with argillic horizons existed prior to 3,000 yr B.P. and that soils developed after 3,000 yr B.P. show little evidence of weathering. This pattern may be related to moister conditions which occurred on the island prior to 3,000 yr. B.P. The analyses also indicate that an erosional episode, which could be related to human-influenced landscape destabilization, occurred after 3,000 yr. B.P. at Karphi and Kavousi. Additional investigations revealed that an eolian component was deposited at Karphi approximately 1,700 yr. B.P., and clay rich sediments in the sinkhole at Kavousi exhibited vertic properties and translocated artifacts of Minoan age in the pedon

A Geoarchaeological Investigation of the Rush Creek Site, Cannon County, Tennessee

Geoarchaeological investigations were used to assess the depositional and post-depositional processes that effected the Rush Creek Site (40CN79) in Cannon County, Tennessee. Of particular interest was a buried landform, found in the floodplain of the East Fork Stones River, that was sealed by sterile alluvium. This formation contained both prehistoric and historic artifacts within the same context. The stratigraphy of the site was determined by deep testing to describe the site and the landforms associated with the site. Samples collected from the exposed profiles of the deep test pits were subjected to particle size, pH, carbon, and phosphorus analyses. Statistical parameters derived from the particle size analysis were subjected to multivariate statistical procedures. Particle size and multivariate analyses demonstrate that variable landforms can be discriminated according to relative age due to the formation of pedogenically derived clay in older landforms, and increased sand content in younger landforms. Carbon and phosphorus analyses show human influence in the buried floodplain formation due to the substantial amount of each found in the midden in comparison to the surrounding landforms. Conflicting radiocarbon dates and historic period research in the area helped to demonstrate that a possible historic truncation episode was responsible for the deposition of historic artifacts within the archaeological context of those of aboriginal origin

RECONSTRUCTING CLIMATE ON THE GREAT PLAINS FROM BURIED SOILS: A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH

The Great Plains, U.S.A. lack quantitative paleoclimatic data for the late Quaternary largely because two common sources of paleoclimatic data, tree ring and pollen records, are rare in the region. Sequences of buried soils, however, are commonly preserved in eolian and alluvial sediments on the Great Plains and have the potential to enhance the region's paleoclimate record. This research presents a study of buried soils preserved in the Caddo Canyons of central Oklahoma to highlight opportunities and considerations for using buried soils to reconstruct past climate. Results indicate that sequences of buried soils dating to the mid- and late-Holocene are commonly preserved in the canyons. Canyon geomorphology dictates the nature of the fill contained in the canyons, and the effect of geomorphology and microclimate on soil formation must be carefully considered when interpreting the buried soil and stable carbon isotope record from the canyons. In an effort to capitalize on the rich paleoenvironmental record that buried soils can provide, this study presents the Buried Soil Reconstruction Model (BuSCR), a method for reconstructing paleoclimate based on properties of buried soils. The model was developed based on a study of modern analogue soils and climate on the Great Plains. BuSCR reconstructs mean annual precipitation (MAP), moisture index (Im), and mean annual temperature (MAT) with statistically significant results (r2 = 0.4, p < .0001) and low mean average errors. While error increases on the edges of the Great Plains climate envelope, application of BuSCR to a series of buried soils across the Great Plains, including soils from the Caddo Canyons, shows that it corroborates both paleoenvironmental reconstructions using other proxies (e.g. dune activation histories) and model-simulated hindcasts. In particular, BuSCR reconstructions corroborate model simulations of a -25% MAP anomaly during the Medieval Warm Period and a drastic reduction in MAP and Im across the Great Plains during the Altithermal. These results indicate that the BuSCR model, with further testing and if applied widely to buried soils across the Great Plains, could provide quantitative reconstructions of past climate that fill a current hole in the North American paleoclimate database

Einflüsse des Landmanagements auf der Boden-Bildung und Boden-Degradierung während der Mitte und spät Holocene in Schleswig-Holstein (Deutschland)

The investigation of natural and human-induced soil degradation are important subjects in terrestrial ecosystem research. They involve several branches of the science. In order to study natural and human-induced soil degradation, it is necessary to use inter- and multidisciplinary approaches with respect to temporal and spatial landscape changes. Soils and sediments are geoindicators which preserve important information about the long-term human impact on the environment. Colluvial sediments are indirect human-made parent materials. They reflect internal and external aspects of long-term soil degradation. Land-use systems determine long-term human-induced soil degradation and soil formation since the beginning of agriculture. In order to answer several questions such as when intensive human-induced soil degradation started in Schleswig-Holstein, how soil degradation developed and what the responses of soils and sediments were to land-use changes, It was hypothesized that intensive human activities during middle and late Holocene were responsible for the modification of soils and sediments and also for the acceleration of soil degradation. An integrative assessment method was thus developed and testified. The results of the investigation of colluvial sediments and soils in three research areas in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) with a high resolution in space and time can be summarized as follows: Properties of soils and sediments vary intensively from Mesolithic until Modern times. Intensive soil formation took place in the colluvial layers during periods of geomorphodynamic stability in a dense woodland. Transport of clay minerals and leaching of soluble material as important soil formation processes were identified in the investigation areas. Inappropriate land-use management caused the podsolization of Cambisols and Luvisols which had developed in colluvial layers before. Man-induced soil formation (degradation e.g. due to podsolization), soil erosion and sedimentation (removal of the nutrients in the topsoil by erosion) modified soil fertility and soil quality often strongly. Land-use systems have usually accelerated, changed or prevented the specific natural processes of soil formation. Soil age information together with geomorphological data, physical, chemical and biological soil properties provide the database which is necessary to study the types and rates of soil formation in colluvial layers. Recent soil conditions are the result e.g. of the decision-making of farmers in the past. The decision-making modified soil formation processes and increased chemical, physical and biological soil degradation. In conclusion, it could be emphasized that the impact of human activities on soils is unavoidable; in many cases negative effects will be multiplied by land mismanagement. The study of the effects of the past and current land-use changes enable the identification of the best solution to control soil degradation. A good knowledge from the past and about current soil degradation helps to identify a successful strategy against unwanted soil changes in order to achieve a sustainable management of the soils in the future.Die Untersuchung der natürlichen und der von Menschen ermöglichten Bodendegradierung sind wichtige Elemente der Ökosystemforschung. Sie betreffen zahlreiche Disziplinen. Das Studium natürlicher und von Menschen ermöglichter Bodendegradation erfordert den Einsatz inter- und multidisziplinärer Ansätze, die räumliche und zeitliche Dynamik von Landschaften beschreiben. Böden und kolluviale Sedimente sind Geoindikatoren, die wichtige Informationen über den Einfluss von Menschen in der Vergangenheit enthalten. Sie stehen im Fokus dieser Arbeit. Kolluvien sind Ausgangsgesteine der Bodenbildung, deren Entstehung von Menschen indirekt ermöglicht wurde. Sie beinhalten interne und externe Aspekte der langfristigen Bodendegradierung. Die agrarische Landnutzung bestimmt seit dem Neolithikum wesentlich die Art und das Ausmaß der langfristigen, von Menschen ermöglichten Bodendegradierung. Wann begann die von Menschen verursachte Bodendegradation in Schleswig-Holstein? Wie entwickelte sich die Bodendegradation seitdem? Wie reagierten Böden und Sedimente auf Landnutzungsänderungen? Als These wird formuliert, dass die intensiven Aktivitäten von Menschen während des mittleren und des jüngeren Holozäns verantwortlich sind für die Veränderung der Böden und Sedimente sowie auch für die Zunahme der Bodendegradation in Schleswig-Holstein. Zur Prüfung wurde eine integrative Untersuchungsmethode entwickelt und getestet. Die Resultate der Untersuchungen von Kolluvien und Böden in drei schleswig-holsteinischen Untersuchungsgebieten in hoher räumlicher und zeitlicher Auflösung können wiefolgt zusammengefaßt werden: Die Eigenschaften von Böden und Sedimenten haben sich vom Mesolithikum bis heute stark verändert. Intensive Bodenentwicklung vollzog sich in Kolluvien im Verlauf von Phasen mit geomorphodynamischer Stabilität unter dichtem Wald. Der Transport von Tonmineralen und die Auswaschung von wasserlöslichen Stoffen sind wichtige Bodenbildungsprozesse, die in den Untersuchungsgebieten nachgewiesen werden konnten. Ein nicht angepaßtes Landnutzungsmanagement verursachte die Podsolierung von Cambisolen und Luvisolen, die sich zuvor in Kolluvien entwickelt hatten. Die von Menschen beeinflußte Bodenbildung (Degradierung, u.a. durch Podsolierung), die Bodenerosion und Sedimentation (Abtransport von Nährstoffen im Oberboden durch Bodenerosion) veränderten die Bodenfruchtbarkeit und die Bodenqualität oftmals stark. Der Einsatz von Landnutzungssystemen hat zumeist die spezifischen natürlichen Bodenbildungsprozesse verstärkt, verändert oder gar verhindert. Informationen zum Alter von Böden zusammen mit geomorphologischen Daten, physikalischen, chemischen und biologischen Bodendaten bilden die Basis für ein Studium der Typen und Raten der Bodenbildung in Kolluvien. Der heutige Bodenzustand ist das Ergebnis u.a. der Entscheidungen von Landnutzern in der Vergangenheit. Diese Entscheidungen haben oft die Art und Intensität der Bodenbildungsprozesse verändert und die chemische, physikalische und biotische Bodendegradation erhöht. Schlußfolgernd ist zunächst festzustellen, dass die Wirkungen menschlichen Handelns auf die Böden unvermeidbar ist. Oft wurden die negativen Effekte verstärkt durch ein Mismanagement des Landes. Die Untersuchung der Wirkungen von Landnutzungssystemen und Landnutzungswandel ermöglichen eine Identifizierung der geeigneten Maßnahmen, um die Bodendegradation zu kontrollieren. Gute Kenntnisse über die Bodendegradation in der Vergangenheit und heute helfen wesentlich, erfolgreiche Strategien gegen unerwünschte Bodenveränderungen und für ein nachhaltiges Management der Böden in der Zukunft zu identifizieren

The San Antonio River Mammoth Site: Archaeological Testing Investigations for the Interstate 37 Bridge at the San Antonio River Improvement Project, Bexar County, Texas

On behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted test excavations on the San Antonio River Mammoth site (41BX1239) and 41BX1240 and surveys in the area of potential effects (APE) of the Interstate Highway (IH) 37 bridge project at the San Antonio River in southeastern Bexar County, Texas. Work was initiated to address the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (1966) as Amended and the Antiquities Code of Texas. The purpose of the investigations was to identify, delineate, and evaluate the significance of all archaeological and historic properties potentially affected by the undertaking and, if warranted, recommend the scope of additional work. Of particular concern, site 41BX1239 contains the remains of at least two mammoths with possible evidence of cultural association based on the initial investigations by Texas A&M in 1997. However, subsequent faunal analysis, conducted by Olga Potapova and Larry D. Agenbroad of the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, North Dakota, found inconclusive evidence for definite or valid cultural modification to the specimens studied. The testing investigations on the San Antonio River Mammoth site included the re-exposure of the original Texas A&M 1997 site trench; limited hand-excavated units to further assess the prior interpretations of the deposits and recover a sample of bone; and a detailed geomorphological assessment. The work identified a bone bed consisting of the remains of at least two mammoths. Flotation of recovered sediments from these hand excavations identified flakes of siliceous material that are consistent with micro-debitage produced by the use and retouch of stone tools. Although at the highest thresholds of certainty, the cumulative evidence is likely yet insufficient to conclusively prove human interaction with the mammoth remains, the additional data gathered herein lend some credence to the prior interpretation of the site as archaeological rather than strictly paleontological. Concurring with the previous determination, the site is considered eligible for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and for listing as a State Archeological Landmark (SAL). However, the investigations determined the site deposits are located outside the APE of the current undertaking, and therefore the project will not affect deposits associated with the San Antonio River Mammoth site. The investigations of 41BX1240 identified only a very sparse scatter of primarily surficial materials in a heavily disturbed context with no associated features or diagnostic materials. Accordingly, the site is not recommended as eligible for listing on the NRHP or for designation as a SAL. The survey identified no new archaeological sites. Based on the avoidance of 41BX1239, it is SWCA’s recommendation that no archaeological properties will be affected by the IH 37 bridge rehabilitation

Una visió de la geografia

Abstract not availabl

The Cayo del Oso Site (41NU2) Volume II Results of Archeological Monitoring of Spur 3, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas 2000-2007

This report is the second volume in a two volume set (see Jackson et al. 2004) detailing the archeological work conducted at site 41NU2 over several years. This volume focuses on the results of construction monitoring associated with road improvements to Spur 3, in Corpus Christi. The work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Committee Permit Number 2445, originally issued to Dr. Robert Hard, who served as the Principal Investigator during the early phases of the project. In 2001, the permit was transferred to Dr. Raymond P. Mauldin, who served as the Principal Investigator the remainder of the project.

Results of Archeological Monitoring of Spur 3, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas 2000-2007

This report is the second volume in a two volume set (see Jackson et al. 2004) detailing the archeological work conducted at site 41NU2 over several years. This volume focuses on the results of construction monitoring associated with road improvements to Spur 3, in Corpus Christi. The work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Committee Permit Number 2445, originally issued to Dr. Robert Hard, who served as the Principal Investigator during the early phases of the project. In 2001, the permit was transferred to Dr. Raymond P. Mauldin, who served as the Principal Investigator the remainder of the project