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Geoarchaeological insights gained from surficial geologic mapping, middle Moche Valley, Peru
Author(s) -
Huckleberry Gary,
Billman Brian R.
Publication year - 2003
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.10074
Subject(s) - holocene , geology , landform , alluvium , weathering , archaeology , clastic rock , river terraces , geomorphology , quaternary , physical geography , paleontology , geography , fluvial , structural basin
We present the results of detailed surficial geologic mapping for a 10 km 2 area of alluvial (quebrada) deposits located in the middle Moche Valley of Peru, where archaeological features and deposits provide cross‐cutting relationships and numerical age control for late Holocene erosion and deposition associated with El Niño. Despite surfaces containing clasts that are heavily pitted and cracked due to salt weathering, archaeological and 14 C dates indicate that most quebrada landforms in the study area are late Holocene in age and may reflect enhanced alluviation associated with increased El Niño activity beginning ca. 6000 cal yr B.P. Our study provides criteria for correlative dating of other Holocene landforms in the Moche Valley area but urges caution in long‐distance (>100 km) correlation because of geographic variability in surface weathering. Surficial geologic mapping aided by archaeological age control allows improved understanding of the rates of landscape change important to the development of complex irrigation‐based societies in the Peruvian Desert. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.