Proceedings of the Fourth Caldwell Conference, St. Catherines Island, Georgia, March 27-29, 2009.

391 p. : ill. (chiefly col.), maps (chiefly col.) ; 26 cm. "Issued March 23, 2011."This edited volume addresses the geoarchaeology of St. Catherines Island (Georgia). The field of geoarchaeology has typically been defined as either geology pursued within an archaeological framework or (sometimes the reverse) as archaeology framed with the help of geological methodology. Either way, the formalized objectives of geoarchaeology define a broad range of pursuits, from placing archaeological sites into relative and absolute temporal context through the application of stratigraphic principles and absolute dating techniques, to understanding the natural processes of site formation, to reconstructing the landscapes that existed around a site or group of sites at the time of occupation. The editors of this volume have generally followed the lead of G.R. Rapp and C.L. Hill (2006, Geoarchaeology : the earth-science approach to archaeological interpretation) by stressing the importance of multiple viewpoints and methodologies in applying geoscience techniques to evaluate the archaeological record. In the broadest sense, then, Geoarchaeology of St. Catherines Island applies multiple earth science concepts, techniques, or knowledge bases to the known archaeological record and the processes that created that record. This volume consists of 16 papers presenting the newest research on the stratigraphic and geomorphological evolution of the St. Catherines Island landscape. Of particular interest are presentations addressing the relative timing and nature of sedimentation, paleobiology, sea level change, stream capture, hydrology, and erosional patterning evident on St. Catherines Island (and to some degree the rest of the Georgia Bight). These papers were initially presented at the Fourth Caldwell Conference, cosponsored by the American Museum of Natural History and the St. Catherines Island Foundation, held on St. Catherines Island (Georgia), March 27-29, 2009. Table of contents: Why this archaeologist cares about geoarchaeology : some pasts and futures of St. Catherines Island / David Hurst Thomas -- Evolution of late Pleistocene-Holocene climates and environments of St. Catherines Island and the Georgia Bight / Fredrick J. Rich, Anthony Vega, and Frank J. Vento -- Geoarchaeological research at St. Catherines Island : defining the geological foundation / Gale A. Bishop, Brian K. Meyer, R. Kelly Vance, and Fredrick J. Rich -- Development of a late Pleistocene-Holocene genetic stratigraphic framework for St. Catherines Island : archaeological implications / Frank J. Vento and Patty A. Stahlman -- Ichnological diagnosis of ancient storm-washover fans, Yellow Banks Bluff, St. Catherines Island / Anthony J. Martin and Andrew K. Rindsberg -- Quaternary vegetation and depositional history of St. Catherines Island / Fredrick J. Rich and Robert K. Booth -- Recent shoreline erosion and vertical accretion patterns, St. Catherines Island / Donald B. Potter Jr. -- Role of storm events in beach ridge formation, St. Catherines Island / Harold B. Rollins, Kathi Beratan, and James E. Pottinger -- Drainage changes at Ossabaw, St. Catherines, and Sapelo sounds and their influence on island morphology and spit building on St. Catherines Island / Timothy M. Chowns -- Vibracores and vibracore transects : constraining the geological and cultural history of St. Catherines Island / Gale A. Bishop, David Hurst Thomas, Matthew C. Sanger, Brian K. Meyer, R. Kelly Vance, Robert K. Booth, Fredrick J. Rich, Donald B. Potter, and Timothy Keith-Lucas -- Application of ground penetrating radar to investigations of the stratigraphy, structure, and hydrology of St. Catherines Island / R. Kelly Vance, Gale A. Bishop, Fredrick J. Rich, Brian K. Meyer, and Eleanor J. Camann -- Postsettlement dispersal and dynamic repopulation of estuarine habitats by adult Mercenaria mercenaria, St. Catherines Island / Robert S. Prezant, Harold B. Rollins, and Ronald B. Toll -- The foundation for sea turtle geoarchaeology and zooarchaeology : morphology of recent and ancient sea turtle nests, St. Catherines Island, Georgia, and Cretaceous Fox Hills Sandstone, Elbert County, Colorado / Gale A. Bishop, Fredric L. Pirkle, Brian K. Meyer, and William A. Pirkle -- Sea turtle habitat deterioration on St. Catherines Island : defining the modern transgression / Gale A. Bishop and Brian K. Meyer -- Modeling indigenous hunting and harvesting of sea turtles and their eggs on the Georgia Coast / Gale A. Bishop, David Hurst Thomas, and Brian K. Meyer -- Geomorphology, sea level, and marine resources : St. Catherines Island / Harold B. Rollins and David Hurst Thomas -- Appendix 1. Noncultural radiocarbon record from St. Catherines Island : a compendium -- Appendix 2. Vibracore record from St. Catherines Island : a compendium.Conference sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History and the St. Catherines Island Foundation

The ichnogenus Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955 (Ichnotaxa, Insecta, Coleoptera, COPRINISPHAERIDAE): proposed conservation

The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve the universally accepted name Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955 for an ichnogenus attributed to dung-beetle brood balls (ichnofamily COPRINISPHAERIDAE ). This name is threatened by a rarely used senior subjective synonym Fontanai Roselli, 1939. It is proposed that the name Coprinisphaera is conserved by suppression of Fontanai.Fil: Genise, Jorge Fernando. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Laza, Jose H.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Rindsberg, Andrew K.. University of West Alabama. Station 7. Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences; Estados Unido

Case 3360. The ichnogenus Coprinisphaera Sauer, 1955 (Ichnotaxa, Insecta, Coleoptera, Coprinisphaeridae): proposed conservation

Volume: 63Start Page: 243End Page: 24

Trilobites in early Cambrian tidal flats and the landward expansion of the Cambrian explosion

The timing of the early invasion of the continents, the routes to the land, and the environmental breadth of the Cambrian explosion are important topics because they are at the core of our understanding of early evolutionary breakthroughs. Illuminating some aspects of these problems are trilobite trace fossils in tidal-flat deposits from the lower Cambrian Rome Formation in the southern Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee (USA). Morphologic details and size range of the trace fossils suggest production by olenellid trilobites, which occur as body fossils in the same unit. The occurrence of this ichnofauna, together with physical structures indicative of periodic subaerial exposure (desiccation cracks) and deposition within the intertidal zone (flat-topped ripples), shows that trilobites forayed into the upper intertidal zone during the Cambrian. Our finding supports the migration of subtidal organisms into marginal-marine, intertidal settings at the dawn of the Phanerozoic, suggesting that trilobites contributed to the establishment of the intertidal ecosystem during the Cambrian. The sequence of events involved in the colonization of early Paleozoic tidal flats is consistent with the idea that most terrestrial taxa originated from marine rather than freshwater ancestors, and that direct routes to the land from marginal-marine ecosystems were involved in the colonization of continental environments early in the Phanerozoic.Fil: Mángano, M. Gabriela. University of Saskatchewan; CanadáFil: Buatois, Luis A.. University of Saskatchewan; CanadáFil: Astini, Ricardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Rindsberg, Andrew K.. University of West Alabama; Estados Unido

Comments On The Draft Proposal To Amend The Code With Respect To Trace Fossils

Volume: 61Start Page: 35End Page: 3

Comments on the draft proposal to emend the Code with respect to trace fossils

In the recent proposal to clarify the meaning of the term ichnotaxon, Bertling et al. (2003) suggested that the Glossary definition of 'work of an animal' should be emended. To supplement the proposed definition of trace fossil, the draft included clearly worded lists of structures that qualify as trace fossils and otherwise. In the proposal, fossil cocoons, pupal cases, plant galls and spider webs are considered to be animal products instead of true trace fossils. However, a vigorous general discussion in the ichnologic community in July and August 2003 (Skolithos, 2003) resulted in a consensus that these terms include some structures that qualify as trace fossils, suggesting the need to refine the wording further. Such refinement is proposed herein to reduce ambiguity between trace and body fossils, delineating a sharper boundary around the ichnological realm.Fil: Genise, Jorge Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Bertling, Markus. University of Münster; AlemaniaFil: Braddy, Simon J.. Geological Institute; DinamarcaFil: Bromley, Richard G.. Geological Institute; DinamarcaFil: Mikulás, Radek. Institute of Geology; República ChecaFil: Nielsen,K.S.S.. Geological Institute; DinamarcaFil: Rindsberg, Andrew K.. Geological Survey of Alabama; Estados UnidosFil: Schlirf, Michael. Institute for Plaeontology; AlemaniaFil: Uchman, Alfred. Institute of Geological Sciences; Poloni