Geoarchaeological investigations at Studenoe,an Upper Paleolithic site in the Transbaikal Region,Russia

In 1998, geoarchaeological research was carried out at the Upper Paleolithic site of Studenoe in the Transbaikal Region of Russia. The site is divided into three loci situated on two terraces overlooking the Chikoi River. Alluvial sediments beneath the oldest terrace (T₂) consist of two depositional units. Radiocarbon ages indicate that aggradation of the T₂ fill began before 18,000 yr B.P. Alluvial sediments beneath the lower terrace (T₁) range in age from 13,000 to 10,000 yr B.P. and are divided into three depositional units. Both terraces are overlain by Holocene colluvium. Archaeological materials at Studenoe 1/1, 1/2, and 2 include dwellings, hearths, and thousands of bone and stone artifacts assigned to the late Upper Paleolithic through the Bronze Age. Evidence of microblade technology is present in all components of the site. Material from recent excavations of Paleolithic levels in the T₂ fill at Studenoe includes mobiliary art, bone needles, and a large dwelling with four hearth features. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Geoarchaeological investigations at the upper Paleolithic site of Kamihoronai‐Moi,Hokkaido, Japan

In order to better understand modern human behavioral variability in Hokkaido, Japan, we consider the geoarchaeology of the Kamihoronai‐Moi site in terms of its geochronology, stratigraphy, depositional environments, and post‐depositional disturbances. A Paleolithic component is stratigraphically situated between the Eniwa‐a (15,000–17,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P.) and the Tarumae‐d (8000–9000 ¹⁴C yr B.P.) tephras. Moreover, six AMS ¹⁴C ages on charcoal from a Pleistocene‐aged hearth feature are between 14,400 and 14,800 ¹⁴C yr B.P. Quantitative examinations of patterns in artifact distributions show a low degree of vertical and horizontal displacement of chipped‐stone artifacts, suggesting that post‐depositional movement of the cultural material was insufficient to disrupt the original pattern of artifact distribution. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Geophysical and Geoarchaeological Investigations at Aganoa Beach,American Samoa: An Early Archaeological Site in Western Polynesia

Archaeological investigations at Aganoa, a coastal site in American Samoa, western Polynesia, revealed a marine resources exploitation base for the early inhabitants of the island. A series of 19 radiocarbon age determinations indicates the principal period of site utilization began no later than 570 B.C., and probably earlier, and lasted for about 300 years. This site is squarely in the phase identified by previous scholars as “ancestral Polynesian.” Geophysical survey in the form of long, shore‐perpendicular transects showed the accretionary history of this beach and ridge area. Surprisingly, it revealed that the earlier ridges were directly below the modern ridge (i.e., progradation of this geomorphic feature had not occurred). The survey revealed a buried paleosol with little or no disturbance, which yielded a well‐preserved assemblage of plain and decorated ceramics, stone artifacts, fishhooks, and archaeofauna. No evidence of archaeological continuity was seen between the end of the terminal Lapita occupation and the later reoccupation of the site after about A.D. 700. This study demonstrates the utility and feasibility of using ground‐penetrating radar for the discovery of deeply buried coastal sites.     

Dating the Lower Paleolithic Open-Air Site of Holon, Israel by Luminescence and ESR Techniques

The open-air Acheulian site in Holon, Israel, was dated by the luminescence methods and by electron spin resonance (ESR). Situated in the coastal plain Quaternary Kurkar Group, the Holon site was first excavated in the late 1960s, when typical lower Paleolithic lithics and middle Pleistocene fauna were found. In order to date the site, new test pits were dug adjacent to the earlier excavations and the archaeological bed was exposed in a section comprising a series of paleosols and aeolianites. Alkali feldspars separated from the sediments were dated using the infrared stimulated luminescence and thermoluminescence signals, and quartz was dated using the optically stimulated luminescence signal. The age of the archaeological bed is constrained by two samples to 198,000 ± 22,000–201,000 ± 17,000 yr. The age of the base of the section is 240,000 ± 29,000 yr, and the age of the top is 81,000 ± 8000 yr. Two teeth from the archaeological bed, recovered from the original excavation collection, yielded an average ESR age of 204,000 ± 16,000 yr, calculated using the linear uptake model, which is in a very good agreement with the luminescence ages. These dates place Holon within the range of other late Acheulian and Acheulo-Yabrudian sites in this region such as Tabun E (younger chronology), Yabrud I (archaeological level 18), and Berekhat Ram.     

A Geoarchaeological Study of the Middle and Upper Pleistocene Levels at Canteen Kopje,Northern Cape Province,South Africa

Canteen Kopje, situated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, has two main archaeological deposits: alluvial gravels and a mantle of overlying fine sediments known locally as the “Hutton Sands.” This paper focuses on the fine sediments, the three industries contained within them, and the interface with the underlying gravels in an attempt to clarify their formation and transformation. A Fauresmith assemblage is found at this interface; it is thus crucial to understand the processes of deposition and modification at this poorly understood boundary. The methods used in this study involved the analysis of artifact depositional (dip and orientation) and spatial data, artifact condition, raw materials, and assemblage size profiles. Data presented document the mixing between the lowest levels of the fine sediments and the underlying alluvial gravels. This study thus provides important contextual information for the Fauresmith industry at Canteen Kopje.     

Early pleistocene lake deposits and Lower Paleolithic finds in Nahal (wadi) Zihor, Southern Negev desert, Israel

An Early Pleistocene fluvio-lacustrine sequence from the extremely arid southern Negev desert, Israel, indicates that climatic conditions during that period were humid enough to support the formation of a lake (Lake Zihor) there. The lacustrine sediments were deposited in a tectonic valley that developed along the Zihor tectonic line after the deposition of the Pliocene Arava Formation. They intercalate with fluvial sediments that contain several horizons of reddish calcic paleosols. The lacustrine sequence comprises three sedimentary cycles. Each starts with a dark clay layer overlain by a white limestone unit, both of which contain abundant freshwater fauna, and terminates with a green detrital limestone that contains only one type of brackish-water ostracod. The top of each green limestone unit is characterized by pedogenic features and microrelief, indicating desiccation of the lake and soil development. Isotope data support the hypothesis that the white limestone was deposited in an open, freshwater lake. The incision of the present channel of Nahal (wadi) Zihor in the lacustrine sediments is manifested by a series of rock-cut and fluvial terraces (Q1–Q4) capped by gypsic-salic soils, which reflect the onset of the present, extremely arid climate. Over 100 find-spots and larger occurrences of prehistoric artifacts assigned to the Lower Paleolithic were discovered near Lake Zihor. On the basis of techno-typological and stratigraphic considerations, these assemblages are divided into two groups, the first of which may be contemporaneous with the lake, while the second is found mainly on the younger Q1 and Q2 terraces. It is estimated that the lake existed for more than 100,000 years. The climate during this period was probably semiarid, but water budget calculations suggest that, in addition to surface runoff, seepage of groundwater along the Zihor Line contributed a considerable amount of water to the lake.     

OSL ages and possible bioturbation signals at the Upper Paleolithic site of Lagoa do Bordoal,Algarve, Portugal

Three sediment samples were collected from a soil profile at the Lagoa do Bordoal site, Algarve, Portugal. Quartz extracted from soil horizons within the profile, was optically dated using the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol outlined by Murray and Wintle (Radiation Measurements 5 (2000) 523). The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) emitted by quartz within the 90–150 μm size range was measured using three aliquot sizes. The equivalent doses (D_E) that were obtained show an asymmetric distribution. As the numbers of grains in each aliquot are reduced, the distribution of doses is clearly shifted to lower D_E values including zero doses on single grain aliquots. This shift is accompanied by an increase in the asymmetry of the distribution. These patterns indicate that as the aliquot size decreases, the distributions are increasingly characterized by aliquots with lower D_E's. With respect to the present day modern surface, this shift is most evident in the sample collected from a depth of 37 cm, within an ancient B-horizon. It is least evident in the sample located only 10 cm below it, within a sand unit. An asymmetric distribution of D_E's can be a result of a large number of grains that were well bleached at burial being mixed with a small number of grains that were partially bleached at that time (Radiation Measurements 30 (1999) 207). However, the shift in D_E's that is seen in the Lagoa East samples is most likely due to the postburial downward movement of fully and partially bleached grains from the surface, with possible contributions from the downward movement of grains that received low doses while buried in overlying horizons. The simplest explanation for our results is that grains carrying zero or small D_E's have been moved downward during bioturbation events. These results suggest that downward bioturbation in ancient soil profiles can be identified based on the OSL characteristics of quartz grains. We are also able to provide a minimum age of 24.4±3.2 ka for the Upper Palaeolithic lithic assemblage at the site.     

泥河湾盆地鹿角梁发现早更新世动物化石和旧石器

泥河湾盆地有成效的科学开拓已经整一个世纪,它以早更新世化石哺乳动物群而名扬世界,现今又以盛产早更新世旧石器遗址而令人密切关注。泥河湾盆地越来越多的考古发现表明,人类走出非洲不可能晚于200万年前。鹿角梁是泥河湾盆地新发现的一处早更新世旧石器地点,出土石制品34件,包括修理品2件、石片18件、石核5件和断块9件,还有大量哺乳动物的骨骼和牙齿化石,其中草原猛犸象（Mammuthus trogontherii）和裴氏板齿犀（Elasmotherium peii）特别引人瞩目。鹿角梁地点所在层位略高于小长梁遗址层位,推测其年龄接近于1.5 Ma。鹿角梁地点的发现,不仅填补了泥河湾盆地早更新世人类遗址序列的一个缺环,而且也增加了泥河湾动物群的一些不多见的化石材料,为研究草原猛犸象和裴氏板齿犀在中国乃至东亚地区的出现和演化提供了实物证据。

     

贵州瓮安埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组上段底部和下段的遗迹化石

贵州瓮安地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组上段产有保存良好的具有生物多样化特征、包含多种门类磷质球粒状化石库的“瓮安生物群”,成为地球早期生物特别是早期后生动物和动物胚胎化石研究的焦点地区。描述了产自瓮安陡山沱组“瓮安生物群”产出层位底部和之下层位的3个后生动物遗迹：Wenganichnus nanbaoensis（ichnogen. et ichnosp. nov.）为具有衬里和半月形回填构造的微弯曲的潜穴管; Doushantuoichnus curvatus（ichnogen. et ichnosp. nov. ）为具有细小横纹脊的中沟和两排呈叠瓦状排列的小羽叶状凸起的表生迹;?Planolites ichnosp. 为任意弯曲的、与围岩岩性略有区别的长线状底迹突起。遗迹化石的形态特征表明它们的造迹生物为沿一定方向运动的、背部与腹部以及前部与后部分化的、两侧对称的蠕虫状后生动物,而非沉积构造。“瓮安生物群”中后生动物的卵和胚胎化石可能系不易保存的软躯体动物的卵和胚胎在水动力作用下与沉积物一起被搬运、沉积,埋藏于较高能浅水环境并处于休眠状态,且被保存。     

Early Permian Palaeoenvironment in Damodar Valley Coalfields, India: an Overview

In the Damodar Valley Basin, coalfields containing coal bearing Barakar Formation are Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro, Ramgarh, and Karanpura. The Barakar Formation is composed of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale, fireclay, and coal. The lower part of Barakar Formation represents a braided channel deposit, and also in few places glacio-fluvial deposit which changes to meandering channel system with the formation of some ox-bow lake, and cut-off channel in the middle part. In a few places deltaic/brackish water condition possibly existed along with this meandering channel system. In the upper part of Barakar Formation, marine signatures are more prominant. Marine signatures/influences have been reported from Barakar Formation of Ramgarh, South Karanpura, and West Bokaro coalfields on the basis of trace fossil assemblage, sedimentation character, and trace element content. Although, definite marine signatures have not been observed from Jharia, and Raniganj coalfields, high concentration of boron, vanadium, and chromium, and presence of skolithos, and thalassinoides burrows possibly suggest a brackish water condition. The upper part clearly suggest that the sediments were deposited in a geographic setting very close to the sea or at the edge of the sea possibly in a peritidal setting where storm activity played a vital role during sedimentation which in turn suggests the presence of a broad shallow sea (epeiric/epicontinental sea) that develop during times of high sea level. The sea water possibly entered from the northeastern side as vast seaways or as embayment through the Damodar Valley which acted as a channel.     

Magnetic properties as indicators of pedogenic and pyrogenic processes at the Upper Paleolithic site of Kostenki 14

In geoarchaeological studies, there is an issue with distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic signals in pedological paleoarchives. With the pedostratigraphy of the Upper Paleolithic site of Kostenki 14, this issue is reflected by problems with the determination of features of pedogenic and pyrogenic processes. This issue was addressed by means of a thorough analysis of the magnetic properties of paleosols accompanied by micromorphological observations. Most of the humic samples were shown to be a result of pedogenesis, but two samples (a Paleolithic hearth sample and a sample from paleosol IIc) had features of intensely burnt material. The difference in the typical intensity of large-scale (natural or human-induced) and local-scale anthropogenic fire allowed for suggesting that the magnetic properties of the burnt sample were the result of an anthropogenically controlled fire event, that is, a hearth. This study shows that the magnetic properties of paleosols can be used to differentiate anthropogenic activity, in particular—burning, from pedogenic processes. This indicator is especially helpful in finding disturbed combustion features when the hearth structure is lost. This methodology used to demonstrate the local human-induced pyrogenic effect at the Upper Paleolithic site can contribute to the discussion of the niche construction effect of human activities in the Pleistocene.     

Last-glacial alluvial fan sedimentation in the Lower Derwent Valley, Tasmania

Alluvial fans of the last glacial age in the lower Derwent Valley in southeastern Tasmania were built by debris flows and stream flows. The deposits were derived from periglacial and nivational slope mantles at the highest altitudes in the fan catchments, and from regolith of uncertain affinities at the lowest elevations. The apical and middle parts of the fans commonly consist of coarse-grained debris flow and water-laid deposits, while the distal deposits are predominantly water-laid sheetflood silts and clays. Channels are important in the proximal parts of the fans and are mostly filled with water-laid sediments, less commonly by debris flow deposits. A first approximation to the mean velocity of the last stage of debris flow in a channel is between 4 m/sec and 6 m/sec. A group of ‘water-laid’ sediments shows very poor separation of particle sizes, and two explanations have been offered for these sediments. Firstly, the large quantities of unsorted debris available from the catchments produced moderately well-sorted slurries, or, secondly, openwork stream gravels were infiltrated by later water flows charged with fines. The streams crossing the fans also produced water flows with relatively low suspended sediment concentrations resulting in reasonably good sorting. The debris flows and ‘water-laid’ muddy sediments cannot be distinguished using CM plots. The debris flows display considerable variation in thickness and grain-size characteristics, which is attributable to properties inherent in debris flow behaviour.     

Facies and depositional processes in an Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous pelagic sedimentary sequence, Antarctica

The Nordenskjöld Formation (?Oxfordian-Berriasian age) is exposed on the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, where it consists of interbedded ash layers and biosiliceous mudstones which accumulated under anaerobic to dysaerobic bottom waters. The mudstones were deposited by pelagic settling and the ash layers by pelagic settling from suspension or as fallout from subaerial eruption columns. The lower part of the succession accumulated in a basinal setting under anaerobic bottom waters and is characterized by parallel bedding. Mudstones deposited in this setting preserve abundant zooplankton faecel pellets. Compaction of these pellets has given rise to a bedding parallel fissility. The upper part of the succession accumulated under dysaerobic bottom waters in a slope setting. The sequence is wavy bedded and contains abundant evidence of post-depositional sediment instability and resedimentation, much of which was caused by tectonic activity. Discrete slide masses are absent from the slope sequence and it appears that slope processes were dominated by creep. Examination of the mudstones shows that as levels of dissolved oxygen in bottom waters increase, pelleted mudstones give way to structureless mudstones before visible bioturbation is noted.     

Clay petrology of the Upper Triassic/Lower Jurassic terrestrial strata of the Newark Supergroup,Connecticut Valley,U.S.A.

The clay mineralogy of the Newark Supergroup (Upper Triassic/Lower Jurassic) in the Connecticut Valley was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Clay minerals identified in 126 samples are illite, chlorite, smectite, kaolinite, vermiculite, expandable chlorite, mixed-layer illite/smectite, mixed-layer chlorite/smectite, and mixed-layer chlorite/vermiculite. In general, the rocks are illitic with subordinate amounts of chlorite. However, the various lithofacies in the Newark Supergroup are characterized by distinct clay-mineral assemblages. Red beds of floodplain origin contain clays mainly of detrital nature with 2M illite most abundant. Subordinate amounts of chlorite, smectite, vermiculite, kaolinite and mixed-layer illite/smectite are also present. An interstratified chlorite/vermiculite occurs in red mudstone underlying basalt flows. Lacustrine gray beds are generally characterized by the clay-mineral assemblage 1Md illite + chlorite with minor amounts of smectite ane expandable chlorite. An interstratified chlorite/smectite predominates in gray mudstone associated with perennial lake cycles in the East Berlin Formation. Black shales of deeper lacustrine origin contain the assemblage 1Md ifillite + trioctahedral smectite and traces of chlorite. Illite and smectite also occur as mixed-layer phases.In many respects, the distribution of clay minerals in the Connecticut Valley can be likened to the general scheme proposed for the Permo-Triassic basins of Europe and Africa. These display both vertical and horizontal variations in clay-mineral assemblages that reflect the chemical and spatiotemporal evolution of intrabasin depositional and diagenetic environments. Chemical data indicate that magnesium, especially, was concentrated in the black muds of large perennial lakes that intermittently occupied the Connecticut rift valley. Pore waters derived from these sediments played an important role in the development of Mg-rich 2 : 1 and interstratified clay minerals during early diagenesis.     

Evidence for Holocene Aeolian Activity at the Close of the Middle Bronze Age in the Eastern Carpathian Basin: Geoarchaeological Results from the Mureş River Valley,Romania

While extensive Pleistocene loess deposits have been identified across Eurasia, Holocene age loess (typically nonglaciogenic) is rarely recognized. We explore possible loess deposits in the Mureş River Valley of western Romania, providing a regional signal of increased aridity during the mid‐late Holocene. This proposed aridity may be responsible for the abandonment of Middle Bronze Age tell settlements along the major drainages of the eastern Carpathian Basin (Pannonian plain). This hypothesis centers on a proposed aeolian deposit (the “Pecica deposit”), a ca. 50–80 cm thick, relatively homogeneous, gray layer blanketing the top of the Bronze Age tell of Pecica—Şanţul Mare. Comparing the morphological, geochemical, and physical characteristics of this specific tell deposit with two representative profiles near the site containing glaciogenic calcareous loess and potential Holocene loess deposits developed in Chernozems, we find significant similarities to support this hypothesis. We then review various forms of proxy data published from elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe suggesting a warming trend during this period. The temporal placement of the Pecica deposit is bracketed using diagnostic artifacts, radiocarbon dates, and the degree of soil development, suggesting a period of increased aridity likely occurring soon after the 17th century B.C.     

Notes on the Sinian Glaciation in the Upper Nanpankiang Valley,E.Yunnan

正 The Sinian Glaciation as revealed by the occurrence of tillite in eastern Yunnan was first recognized in Chenkiang by Prof. P. Misch.' During a reconnaissance survey. along the Sufu-Kunming Railway Line from Kunming to Chutsin last year, I had the opportunity to visit this tillite locality in Chen     

Artifact abrasion,fluvial processes,and “living floors” from the Early Paleolithic site of ’Ubeidiya (Jordan Valley,Israel)

Early Acheulian assemblages in fluviolacustrine contexts at the Early Pleistocene site of ‘Ubeidiya (Jordan Valley, Israel) have been described as “living floors.” A study of variation in the surface abrasion of stone tools from several such “living floors” suggest a mixture of cultural and geological factors were involved in the formation of these assemblages. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural controls on topography and river morphodynamics in Upper Assam Valley,India

The basement in Upper Assam foreland basin exhibits a typical flexure pattern. An elongated continuous subsurface basement high has developed between Himalaya and Naga-Patkai ranges. A few prominent basement lows have developed adjacent to the foothill regions. It is noticed that the general topographic slope near the foothill regions is not only controlled by aggradation process, but also influenced by the flexured basement of the region. The basement lows have influenced the overlying topography significantly. Rivers flowing over those regions have shown unidirectional lateral migration. North bank tributaries like Subansiri, Jiadhal and Dikrang have been affected by the Subansiri basement low. Coseismic subsidence of sediments over Subansiri basement low had resulted subsidence of the North Lakhimpur-Ranga Nadi region in 1950 Assam earthquake. Some south bank tributaries like Disang and Dikhow have been affected by Nazira basement low. Topographic elevation along the Subansiri river is lower than that part of the Brahmaputra located south of Majuli. This typical topographic setting of the region makes the mouth of the Subansiri river and Majuli region highly susceptible to erosion.