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The hidden record: Late Holocene landscapes and settlement archaeology in the Lower Ohio River Valley
Author(s) -
Stafford C. Russell,
Creasman Steven D.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.10007
Subject(s) - holocene , alluvium , geology , radiocarbon dating , archaeology , woodland , bedrock , floodplain , levee , landform , terrace (agriculture) , mollisol , geomorphology , paleontology , geography , soil water , ecology , cartography , geotechnical engineering , soil science , biology
From extensive backhoe trenching and coring in the Great Miami–Ohio River confluence region, in conjunction with a large suite of radiocarbon ages, we have identified large tracts of late Holocene alluvium. Thick blankets of Historic alluvium (post‐settlement) may also cover levees of the Ohio River. In conjunction with other studies in the Outer Bluegrass Region of the lower Ohio River valley, it is possible to document an association between floodplain Mollisols, Inceptisols, and Entisols and late Holocene‐aged landforms. Levees appear to have stabilized between 1000 and 2000 yr B.P. Although buried soils are rare, archaeological materials were ubiquitous in late Holocene Landform Sediment Assemblages. Because a substantial volume of valley fill is late Holocene in age, Woodland sites of all types are frequently buried, and Fort Ancient sites may be buried by Historic alluvium. Therefore, if Woodland or later settlement studies in this region are based on surface evidence alone, they are likely to be biased. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.