The McNeill-Gonzales site is a stratified multi-component prehistoric site in Victoria County, Texas. The site is located in approximately 2 meters of fine sand that mantle a fluvial terrace of the Guadalupe River. Geoarchaeological investigations were conducted at this site to determine the stratigraphy of the archaeological deposits, the processes that led to the formation of the site, and the integrity of the archaeological deposits. Three Holocene deposits of fine sand are mantling the tread and slope of a Pleistocene fluvial terrace of the Deweyville Formation. Granulometric studies and the stratigraphic position of the sands suggest the deposits are eolian in nature. Artifacts from the Late Paleoindian period (10,000 B.P.) to the Historic period were found in generally good stratigraphic position and made possible the correlation of the three deposits of fine sand across the site. There is evidence of bioturbation across the entire site and disturbance by colluvial action on the southeastern slopes of the site; however, intact human burials, hearth features, and artifacts in stratigraphic position indicate that secondary processes have not completely compromised the integrity of the archaeological deposits.

Geoarchaeological investigations were conducted in the Middle Río Negro Valley in the northern portion of Patagonia, Argentina from 2004-2005. This project worked in conjunction with archaeological investigations in this region conducted by Lic. Luciano Prates (Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina). No previous studies on the detailed reconstruction of the landscape history had been conducted in this valley. In order to place the archaeological record in this landscape context, this project had four main research objectives: 1) to reconstruct the landscape history; 2) to incorporate the known archaeological record into this landscape history; 3) to interpret natural formation processes and evaluate the preservation potential for archaeological sites; and 4) to interpret how landscape history could have influenced settlement patterns. Altogether, six months of fieldwork consisted of field reconnaissance of the landscape and recording of the regional stratigraphy through detailed analysis of sediments and soils, geomorphological features, and archaeological sites. This fieldwork was combined with analysis of aerial photographs, topographical and geological maps, and sedimentological samples, in addition to the incorporation of radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating of stratigraphic units. As a result, through landscape reconstruction, it was possible to evaluate the preservation of the archaeological record, its landscape context, and to construct a predictive model for the location of archaeological sites from the Late Pleistocene through Late Holocene. Study of Late Holocene channel avulsion and the formation of pools within abandoned avulsion channels which occurred in one part of the study area suggest that landscape change potentially influenced Late Holocene settlement patterns in the Middle Río Negro Valley.

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-02-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:03:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_rt_dr_rcla.pdf: 4369569 bytes, checksum: a212b4d4c57f161fd07da6929ebb15ce (MD5) / A presente tese teve como objetivo principal a elaboração de cartas de potencialidade arqueológica para grupos de caçadores-coletores e agricultores ceramistas, utilizando-se dos conhecimentos das geociências (principalmente geologia, geomorfologia e pedologia), para serem utilizadas principalmente em Estudos de Impacto Ambiental. Para tal, foram selecionadas duas áreas, a Pequena Central Hidrelétrica Piranhas (PCH Piranhas), localizada no sudoeste do Estado de Goiás, no rio Piranhas e no município homônimo, e a Linha de Transmissão SE Samambaia (DF)/SE Rio Vermelho(GO), localizada entre o Estado de Goiás e o Distrito Federal. A metodologia aplicada baseou-se na utilização de bases cartográficas disponíveis, como carta topográfica e mapas de geologia, solos, geomorfologia e cobertura vegetal. A partir dessas bases, foi elaborada a carta de declividade, na qual foram lançadas as demais características ambientais, resultando no estabelecimento de áreas com característica próprias, as quais foram analisadas sob a ótica da arqueologia, procurando relacionar suas características com aquelas consideradas importantes no estabelecimento de grupos pré-históricos, com base nas variáveis identificadas na bibliografia arqueológica do Estado de Goiás. As cartas de potencialidade estabeleceram áreas favoráveis, razoavelmente favoráveis e desfavoráveis à ocorrência de sítios para grupos de caçadorescoletores e agricultores ceramistas, resultando em um instrumento de planejamento, com o qual é possível um conhecimento prévio da área. A elaboração deste instrumento também forneceu subsídios para a organização do levantamento sistemático de campo, principalmente quanto às características do meio ambiente, incluindo aqueles dos meios físicos e bióticos, assim como a ocupação e dinâmica atual das áreas... / The present thesis considers the development of archaeological potentiality maps designed to hunters-gatherers and farmers-potters prehistoric groups, from the perspective of the geosciences (particularly Geology, Geomorphology and Pedology) especially applied to the Environmental Impact Studies. Two areas were chosen for this study: the Piranhas Little Hydroelectric Power Station (PCH Piranhas) situated at the southwest of Goiás State, at Piranhas County and along Piranhas River; and the SE Samambaia Transmission Line (DF)/SE Rio Vermelho (GO), between Goiás State and the Distrito Federal. The methodology is based on the available cartographical basis, as topographical maps and geology maps, soils, geomorphology and the vegetation coverage. These basis were the starting point for the elaboration of the declivety map, where were registered the others environmental characteristics, enabling the establishment of single characteristics areas, which were analyzed by an archaeological approach. The objective was to set a relation between their characteristics and those of the prehistoric groups, regarding the archaeological bibliography about Goiás State. The potentiality maps settle advantageous, reasonable advantageous and non-advantageous areas considering the hunters-gatherers and farmers-potters archaeological sites, originating a potential planning instrument useful to the previous diagnosis of the area. This instrument also provided elements to the systematic survey project, especially concerning the environmental characteristics, including those from the physical and biotic environment and also the occupation and the dynamics of the area today. Archaeological sites and isolated occurrences in advantageous and reasonable advantageous areas were identified during the systematic survey within the two research areas, demonstrating that geoarchaeological... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Texas A&M University completed excavations at the Gault site (41BL323) in Bell County, Texas, in the spring season of 2000. Located at the head of Buttermilk Creek, past inhabitants have enjoyed perennial springs and a variety of natural resources available in the immediate area, including high quality chert from the Balcones Escarpment of the Edwards Plateau. Chipped stone material diagnostic of the Clovis period was recovered during the TAMU block excavation, informally referred to as the "Lindsey Pit," from clay deposits approximately 35 cm thick. Natural agents that may have impacted contextual integrity of the Clovis cultural deposits include stream action, pedoturbation, and bioturbation. Artifact spatial analyses examined long axis orientations and artifact degree of dip to identify non-random patterns that would result from stream action. Vertical and horizontal relationships of refitting artifacts were examined to evaluate post-depositional displacement. Orientations of chipped stone artifact long axes and inclination were found to be statistically random, with minor patterns that reflect the paleotopography. Thirty-three groups of refitting artifacts were identified, none of which contained elements recovered from deposits more recent than the Clovis clays. Five groups have elements that appear to come from both of the Clovis clay deposits, indicating a small degree of vertical displacement. The results of this research indicate the clays bearing Clovis materials retained a high degree of integrity such that the spatial patterns preserved in the archaeological record at this location are the result of cultural activities and not natural processes. Though time-consuming in the field and laboratory, additional fine-grained analyses such as artifact orientation and refit studies provide separate lines of evidence to account for natural processes that may have acted to obscure the original patterns of the archaeological record, and our understanding of past human cultures.

The vegetation history of the North Tyne basin, northern England, is presented for an extended Holocene period, dating back to ca. 8000 cal. BC. This study focuses upon vegetation histories from two types of site, which record changes at differing spatial scales. The regional vegetation of the area is recorded within three radiocarbon-dated pollen diagrams from upland sites at Drowning Flow, Bloody Moss and Sells Bum. These sites provide a different perspective of regional vegetation history in comparison to existing published accounts from the region. This work also fills a spatial gap in current knowledge, by providing records from the area between Hadrian's Wall in the south and the Cheviots to the north for which only one previous site exists (Steng Moss: Davies and Turner, 1979). These regional records are complemented by the reconstruction of local, valley floor vegetation derived from organic-rich palaeochannel fills at Brownchesters Farm, Redesdale and Snabdaugh Farm, North Tynedale. These sites demonstrate how patterns of vegetation at local scales can provide valuable additional insights into former landscapes, valley floor land-use and human activity. Perceived problems of the usage of alluvial sediments for palynological investigation are discussed, while methodologies to overcome these difficulties are developed and the potential benefits of these contexts for vegetation reconstruction outlined. The unusually long and readily dateable alluvial record has also facilitated a new perspective on the timing and controls of Holocene fluvial activity in the North Tyne basin. The close integration of archaeological evidence with the results from this study has contributed to a number of debates concerning former human activity in the area. Palynological results suggest that the impact of Mesolithic and Neolithic societies upon the landscape has been underestimated; that postulated alterations in upland / lowland settlement patterns during the Bronze Age are a consequence of a fragmentary archaeological record rather than a response to changing environmental conditions; that Iron Age (and earlier) agricultural activity has been underestimated and that forest clearance was a gradual phenomenon with its origins in the Late Mesolithic and not primarily a result of activity associated with invading Roman forces.

Orientador: Jairo Roberto Jimenez-Rueda / Banca: Pablo Vidal Torrado / Banca: Bernadete Aparecida Caprioglio de Castro / Banca: Maira Barberi / Banca: Antonio Rogerio Saad / Resumo: A presente tese teve como objetivo principal a elaboração de cartas de potencialidade arqueológica para grupos de caçadores-coletores e agricultores ceramistas, utilizando-se dos conhecimentos das geociências (principalmente geologia, geomorfologia e pedologia), para serem utilizadas principalmente em Estudos de Impacto Ambiental. Para tal, foram selecionadas duas áreas, a Pequena Central Hidrelétrica Piranhas (PCH Piranhas), localizada no sudoeste do Estado de Goiás, no rio Piranhas e no município homônimo, e a Linha de Transmissão SE Samambaia (DF)/SE Rio Vermelho(GO), localizada entre o Estado de Goiás e o Distrito Federal. A metodologia aplicada baseou-se na utilização de bases cartográficas disponíveis, como carta topográfica e mapas de geologia, solos, geomorfologia e cobertura vegetal. A partir dessas bases, foi elaborada a carta de declividade, na qual foram lançadas as demais características ambientais, resultando no estabelecimento de áreas com característica próprias, as quais foram analisadas sob a ótica da arqueologia, procurando relacionar suas características com aquelas consideradas importantes no estabelecimento de grupos pré-históricos, com base nas variáveis identificadas na bibliografia arqueológica do Estado de Goiás. As cartas de potencialidade estabeleceram áreas favoráveis, razoavelmente favoráveis e desfavoráveis à ocorrência de sítios para grupos de caçadorescoletores e agricultores ceramistas, resultando em um instrumento de planejamento, com o qual é possível um conhecimento prévio da área. A elaboração deste instrumento também forneceu subsídios para a organização do levantamento sistemático de campo, principalmente quanto às características do meio ambiente, incluindo aqueles dos meios físicos e bióticos, assim como a ocupação e dinâmica atual das áreas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The present thesis considers the development of archaeological potentiality maps designed to hunters-gatherers and farmers-potters prehistoric groups, from the perspective of the geosciences (particularly Geology, Geomorphology and Pedology) especially applied to the Environmental Impact Studies. Two areas were chosen for this study: the Piranhas Little Hydroelectric Power Station (PCH Piranhas) situated at the southwest of Goiás State, at Piranhas County and along Piranhas River; and the SE Samambaia Transmission Line (DF)/SE Rio Vermelho (GO), between Goiás State and the Distrito Federal. The methodology is based on the available cartographical basis, as topographical maps and geology maps, soils, geomorphology and the vegetation coverage. These basis were the starting point for the elaboration of the declivety map, where were registered the others environmental characteristics, enabling the establishment of single characteristics areas, which were analyzed by an archaeological approach. The objective was to set a relation between their characteristics and those of the prehistoric groups, regarding the archaeological bibliography about Goiás State. The potentiality maps settle advantageous, reasonable advantageous and non-advantageous areas considering the hunters-gatherers and farmers-potters archaeological sites, originating a potential planning instrument useful to the previous diagnosis of the area. This instrument also provided elements to the systematic survey project, especially concerning the environmental characteristics, including those from the physical and biotic environment and also the occupation and the dynamics of the area today. Archaeological sites and isolated occurrences in advantageous and reasonable advantageous areas were identified during the systematic survey within the two research areas, demonstrating that geoarchaeological... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This thesis adopts a geoarchaeological approach to palaeoenvironmental research in the Konya basin of South-Central Turkey. It involves the analysis of sediment sequencesth rough cultural and alluvial depositsa crossa broad alluvial fan which has developed on the southern edge of the basin since the beginning of the Holocene. Sediments have been analysed by mineral magnetics, particle size, carbonate and organic matter content, and grouping into lithological units has been aided by statistical techniques including principal components analysis and discriminant analysis. Resultso f the analysis have shown a complex sequenceo f deposition across the alluvial fan throughout the Holocene, and within the sequences a number of archaeological sites ranging in date from the Early Neolithic to the Byzantine periods have been identified as being established on various land surfaces. During the early to mid Holocene, the predominant alluvial deposit across the fan was a fine-grained, heavy backswamp clay, deposition of which was time transgressive, i. e. area of deposition changed over this period as the course of the depositing river migrated laterally, and up/down fan. Evidence from the largest and earliest site studied, I; atalh6yiik, where archaeological excavation has recently recommenced, shows that the site was established during the Early Neolithic in an actively flooding alluvial environment. This has implications, not only for the populations inhabiting the site, but also for the wider reasoning behind the establishment of early agricultural settlements in the Near East. Other sites in the area up to the Early Bronze Age have also been seen to have been established in actively depositing alluvial settings. Shortly before c. 4000 BP there was a permanent change in the nature of alluvial deposition, with the heavy backswamp clay being replaced by a less fine-grained deposit of different origin. This initial change was concurrent with an apparent depopulation of the alluvial fan and a relationship between the two phenomena is possible. More importantly, there appear to have been major population changes and increased human influence on the environment of both the fan catchment and the wider region subsequent to these phenomena. Such changes appear to have had a long-term effect on the fan environment as the nature of the alluvial deposition remained relatively unaltered between these events and intensive irrigation schemes which restricted alluvial deposition in the early twentieth century.

The development of tools and techniques used in paleoenvironmental studies is important for the advancement of geoarchaeological research. Geoarchaeological studies of ancient harbours involve the integration of paleoenvironmental data with archaeological findings, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of site development and regional maritime trade. This dissertation highlights and/or explores novel applications of microfossils and micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) core scanning data in paleoenvironmental reconstructions within three ancient harbour studies. Foraminifera, diatom, pollen, μXRF, carbon stable isotope, and radiocarbon dating results from underwater cave sediments on the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula indicate that the region’s wetlands developed between 1157 BCE and 312 CE. Continued sea-level rise after ~312 CE allowed canoe access through a channel from the Caribbean Sea to Muyil, a Classic Maya maritime port site. Development of the wetlands may have implications for increased maritime trade on the Yucatán’s eastern coast during the Postclassic (925–1550 CE). This study demonstrates the importance of karst cave systems for obtaining paleoenvironmental records and provides a first assessment of the diatom community that has been transported into the sampled cave system. The novel application of epiphytic foraminifera as biostratigraphic indicators was investigated at Caesarea, Israel. Benthic foraminifera assemblages indicated that the emplacement of hard harbour structures along the sandy coast between 21–10 BCE altered the environmental conditions and impacted the nearby ecological communities. Epiphytic foraminifera, in particular Pararotalia calcariformata, were found to be useful indicators for the timing of harbour construction at Caesarea. μXRF and magnetic susceptibility results also supported the presence of increased harbour material (i.e., kurkar and volcanic ash) in offshore sediments over time. This study demonstrates that epiphytic foraminifera can be cost-effective biostratigraphic indicators in geoarchaeological studies. Results also confirm that P. calcariformata is endemic to Israel and is not a recent arrival following the opening of the Suez Canal. Foraminifera, testate amoebae, μXRF, and radiocarbon dating results from sediment cores collected from two lagoons, Khor Al Balid and Khor Rori, on the southern coast of Oman indicate that the lagoons closed off from the sea between the 12th and 15th centuries CE. Prior to lagoon formation, these two sites formed natural harbours that were the locations of major maritime trade ports. Progressive siltation and sand accumulation along the coastline after the 15th century likely impacted shipping activities, contributing to abandonment of the city near Khor Al Balid. Evidence of a marine overwash event across most cores from both sites dating to the 18th–19th century CE suggests that an extreme wave event (e.g., tsunami or large tropical cyclone) may have also contributed to the decline of the city. The results of this study provide an important paleoenvironmental context for previous archaeological findings. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This project documents the multi-scalar formation processes of two northern Levantine coastal Paleolithic cave sites using field geology, archaeological micromorphology and sediment geochemistry. Located in within several hundred meters of each other, the sequences from Üçağızlı I and II present an opportunity to compare late Middle and early Upper Paleolithic hominin adaptations to a similar coastal environment. The morphologies of the sites and the suite of coastal geomorphic features available to the area's Paleolithic occupants were impacted by fluctuations in sea level as well as tectonic events. The sites share similar formation histories that include active karstic processes, marine inundation, occupation by hominins, partial collapse of the cave vaults, and erosion of the uppermost archaeological deposits. Mousterian occupation of Üçağızlı II began after the formation of a series of stable sea level features that date to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5a. Hominin utilization of the highly eroded portions of the cave continued at least through the middle of MIS 3, although the cultural attribution of the youngest materials is presently unknown. Üçağızlı I contains a sequence of Initial Upper Paleolithic, Ahmarian and Epipaleolithic materials dating to MIS 3 and 2. Micromorphology of the archaeological sediments reveals strong anthropogenic contributions to the infilling of both caves, in particular the deposition of abundant, well-preserved wood ashes. In both sequences, post-depositional insect bioturbation has negatively impacted the combustion features, resulting in alteration of the original sedimentary fabrics and loss of information regarding hominin activities such as sweeping, rake-out and dumping of ashes. In Üçağızlı II, the dominant mode of sedimentation is anthropogenic; a series of intact and cemented combustion features located beneath the highest point of the cave ceiling is surrounded by sediment exhibiting evidence of both rodent and insect bioturbation. In Üçağızlı I, phases of human activity alternated with periods of natural sedimentation. Combustion features in the site include isolated hearths, stacks of hearths, rake-out or sweeping deposits, ash dumps, and mixed burned materials that have been impacted by colluvial reworking and bioturbation. In sum, the two sites contain similar types of anthropogenic sediments despite differing cultural affiliation.