Geoarchaeologic analysis of South Platte River terraces: Kersey,Colorado

Soil-sediment records and radiometric dating allow the development of environmental histories of three South Platte River alluvial terraces in the vicinity of Kersey, Colorado. These advocate a correlation with Holocene glacial records for the Colorado Front Range (Benedict, 1981, 1985). The archaeological potential of the Kersey fill, the Kuner strath, and the Hardin fill depends upon their age and sediment context. The oldest and most extensive terrace is the Kersey fill. The position of cultural components on the Kersey terrace implies an association of older Paleoindian sites (11,500–10,000 B.P.) with channel banks and bars on the terrace, younger Paleoindian sites (<10,000 B.P.) with terrace margins near the river, and Archaic and younger sites with eolian deposits on the terrace. An association of Clovis components with both Kersey alluvium and adjacent eolian dune fields indicates that eolian deposition began prior to 11,000 B.P. and that sediment availability influenced early Holocene eolian deposition. Examination of 150 cores and 75 backhoe test units along an 8-km study corridor demonstrates that Paleoindian sites are not as abundant on the Kersey terrace as previous researchers have proposed. Although the incision of the Kuner strath began earlier than 9600 B.P., we propose that its greatest potential is to yield cultural components that postdate ca. 7250 B.P. In turn, the Hardin fill may yield cultural components dating to the Kuner abandonment (ca. 6380 B.P.). However, Hardin sediment and soil records recommend that this fill terrace's highest potential is to yield in situ cultural components dating from ca. 1900 to 120 B.P. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Geochemistry and evolution of the South Platte granite-pegmatite system,Jefferson County,Colorado

The South Platte pegmatite district is well known for its significant enrichment in the rare earth elements (REE), Y, Nb, F, and for the exceptionally well-developed internal zonation of the complex pegmatites located within a reversely zoned portion of the Pikes Peak batholith. Chemical trends both within and between pegmatites define the behavior of major and trace elements and the role of F in the fractionation of the granitic magma and pegmatitic fluids, suggesting a new model for the evolution of the granite-pegmatite system.Whole-rock XRF and INAA analyses of the host Pikes Peak granite and quartz monzonite and pegmatite wall zones provide strong evidence that all three are related by differentiation. With increasing SiO₂, there is systematic enrichment in K₂O, Na₂O, and Rb, and depletion in CaO, MgO, FeO1, TiO₂, P₂O₅, Ba, Sr, and Sc. REE, Y, Zr, and Th were strongly partitioned out of the wall zone into the final residual fluids where they were concentrated up to an order of magnitude over levels in the granite.Within the district, there is also chemical zonation of F, Nb, Th, U, and REE between groups of pegmatites. Polyzonal quartz-core types typically contain more fluorite, samarskite, HREE-zircon, and yttrian-fluorite than their bizonal composite-core counterparts, which contain only sparse fluorite and allanite.The sequence of magmatic evolution involved: (1) a process of diffusive differentiation and fractional crystallization which produced a chemically stratified magma chamber with a hotter more mafic quartz monzonitic base and a more felsic, granitic top enriched in H₂O, F, HREE, Nb, and Y; (2) resurgence of the more mafic lower level crystal mush in to the upper more felsic part of the pluton; and (3) separation of pegmatitic fluids from the juxtaposed magmas giving rise to two compositionally distinct groups of pegmatites.     

Abundance and size variation of Globorotalia menardii in the Northeastern Indian Ocean during the late quaternary

Variation in absolute abundance, size and coiling direction ratio of the planktic foraminifera Globorotalia menardii during the late Quaternary have been studied in three cores, collected along a north-south transect from the northeastern Indian Ocean. Increased abundance and larger size is observed during the warm interglacial period, whereas, smaller and fewer G. menardii specimens are noted during the cold glacial periods. A comparatively better match between absolute abundance, size and oxygen isotopic composition of foraminifera as compared to carbon isotopic composition at all the locations indicates that the abundance and size of G. menardii is more affected by seawater temperature and salinity as compared to productivity changes. The amplitude and frequency of temporal changes in the abundance and size of G. menardii vary from core-to-core, indicating the influence of site-specific physico-chemical conditions. In comparison to the abundance and size, the coiling direction of G. menardii does not show any systematic change in any of the cores. The majority of the specimens coil sinistrally. We conclude that the absolute abundance and variation in the average size of G. menardii can be used to infer past climatic changes. However, the variation in coiling direction of G. menardii appears to be unaffected by late Quaternary paleoclimatic variations in the north-eastern Indian Ocean.     

The geomorphology and stratigraphy of the Lizard Loess in south Cornwall, England

The Quaternary deposits of south Cornwall are described with an emphasis placed on the loess component. A formal lithostratigraphic name – the Lizard Loess – is proposed for the loess formation with a holostratotype designated from the Lizard Peninsula. Two environments of loess deposition are distinguished on the basis of geomorphic position and degree of solifluction activity.     

Geoarchaeology and late glacial landscapes in the western lake superior region,Central North America

The transition from full glacial to interglacial conditions along the southern margin of the Laurentide ice sheet resulted in dramatic changes in landscapes and biotic habitats. Strata and landforms resulting from the Wisconsin Episode of glaciation in the area directly west of Lake Superior indicate a context for late Pleistocene biota (including human populations) connected to ice margins, proglacial lakes, and postglacial drainage systems. Late Glacial landscape features that have the potential for revealing the presence of Paleoindian artifacts include abandoned shorelines of proglacial lakes in the Superior and Agassiz basins and interior drainages on deglaciated terrains. The linkage between Late Pleistocene human populations and Rancholabrean fauna has yet to be demonstrated in the western Lake Superior region, although isolated remains of mammoth ( Mammuthus) have been documented, as well as fluted points assigned to Clovis, Folsom, and Holcombe‐like artifact forms. Agate Basin and Hell Gap (Plano‐type) artifacts also imply the presence of human groups in Late Glacial landscapes associated with the Agassiz and Superior basins. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Geoarchaeology of the Kostenki–Borshchevo sites,Don River Valley,Russia

The Kostenki–Borshchevo localities include 26 Upper Paleolithic sites on the first and second terraces along the west bank of the Don River, near Voronezh on the central East European Plain. Geoarchaeological research from 2001 through 2004 focused on sites Kostenki 1, 12, and 14, with additional work at Kostenki 11 and 16, and Borshchevo 5. The strata are grouped into three units (bottom up): Unit 1, > 50 ka, consists of coarse alluvium (representing upper terrace 2 deposits) and colluvium, overlain by fine‐grained sediments. Unit 2 includes archaeological horizons sealed within two sets of thin lenses of silt, carbonate, chalk fragments, and organic‐rich soils (termed the Lower Humic Bed and Upper Humic Bed) dating 50–30 ka. Separating the humic beds is a volcanic ash lens identified as the Campanian Ignimbrite Y5 tephra, dated elsewhere by Ar/Ar to ca. 40 ka. The humic beds appear to result from the complex interplay of soil formation, spring deposition, slope action, and other processes. Several horizons buried in the lower part of Unit 2 contain Upper Paleolithic assemblages. The springs and seeps, which are still present in the area today, emanated from the bedrock valley wall. Their presence may account for the unusually high concentration of Upper Paleolithic sites in this part of the central East European Plain. Unit 3, < 30 ka, contains redeposited loess with a buried soil (Gmelin Soil) overlain by a primary full‐glacial loess with an associated Chernozem (Mollisol), forming the surface of the second terrace. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Statistical and geostatistical features of streambed hydraulic conductivities in the Platte River, Nebraska

This paper presents streambed hydraulic conductivities of the Platte River from south-central to eastern Nebraska. The hydraulic conductivities were determined from river channels using permeameter tests. The vertical hydraulic conductivities (K _v ) from seven test sites along this river in south-central Nebraska belong to one statistical population. Its mean value is 40.2 m/d. However, the vertical hydraulic conductivities along four transects of the Ashland test site in eastern Nebraska have lower mean values, are statistically different from the K _v values in south-central Nebraska, and belong to two different populations with mean values of 20.7 and 9.1 m/d, respectively. Finer sediments carried from the Loup River and Elkhorn River watersheds to the eastern reach of the Platte River lowers the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the streambed. Correlation coefficients between water depth and K _v values along a test transect indicates a positive correlation – a larger K _v usually occurs in the part of channel with deeper water. Experimental variograms derived from the vertical hydraulic conductivities for several transects across the channels of the Platte River show periodicity of spatial correlation, which likely result from periodic variation of water depth across the channels. The sandy to gravelly streambed contains very local silt and clay layers; spatially continuous low-permeability streambed was not observed in the river channels. The horizontal hydraulic conductivities were larger than the vertical hydraulic conductivities for the same test locations.     

Late quaternary of the middle Caquetá River area (Colombian Amazonia)

The late Quaternary history of the middle Caquetá River area in Colombia, northwestern Amazonia is described, based on observations of river bank sections, radiocarbon dates and palynological analyses of organic layers in floodplain and low terrace sediments of the Caquetá River. It is shown that the Late Pleistocene and Holocene climatic changes that took place in the Andean Cordilleras, were related to the depositional and erosional history of the Caquetá River in the Colombian Amazonian lowlands. The low terrace sediments consist of sandy and gravelly deposits covered by clays that sometimes contain lenses of peaty material. From these organic low terrace sediments, seven finite radiocarbon dates were obtained of Middle Pleniglacial age, between 56 000 and 30 000 yr BP. The coarse textured basal deposits of the low terrace apparently stem from the early part of the Middle Pleniglaciai period, during which the effective rainfall in the Andes was relatively high and the Andean glaciers had a considerable extension. Palynological data from silty sediments with organic remains at one site, show an interval when drier and more open types of vegetation on poor soils must have covered a larger area than today, but Amazonian forest was still the dominating type of vegetation. This interval might correspond to one of the Middle Pleniglacial savanna intervals from eastern Amazonia (Carajas). No organic sediments from the Upper Pleniglacial period were found and hence radiocarbon dates were not obtained. In the Andes this period had a very cold climate with low effective rainfall and in the east Amazonian Carajas area it is characterised by the relative extension of open savanna vegetation. The river run-off and sediment transport must have been much lower than in the Middle Pleniglacial and the Caquetá River cut itself down in its own sediments. Two Late-glacial radiocarbon datings obtained at one site (ca. 12 500 yr BP) indicate the existence of a Late-glacial sedimentation phase, separated from the Holocene sequence by a minor erosional phase. Organic layers in the Holocene floodplain sediments yielded 28 radiocarbon dates between 10 000 and 355 yr BP. Holocene sedimentation started with the rapid deposition of (sandy) clay possibly in a partly permanently inundated Caquetá valley. During the major part of the Holocene (silty) clays were deposited, with a dominant seasonal inundation cycle.     

美国内布拉斯加州普拉特河河床沉积物渗透系数的现场测定

竖管测定法可现场测定河床的渗透系数.采用人工梯度法和自然梯度法两种方法,对普拉特河位于卡尼市(KearneyCity)东南河段河床的垂直、水平和任意方向的渗透系数进行了野外现场测定.10个测点的垂向渗透系数的平均值为30.51m/d,一个测点的水平方向渗透系数为97.2m/d,其各向异性比率约为3.结果表明:普拉特河床沉积物剖面上具有一定的各向异性,平面上为非均匀介质.     

Interpretation of grain-size distributions from measured sediment data, Platte River, Nebraska

Breaks in the slope of log-probability plots of cumulative grain-size distributions of bed material are compared with frequency distributions of bedload and suspended sediment over a range of discharges at two stations on the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. The break between suspension and intermittent suspension as determined from the bed-material curve coincides with the upper limit of the grain-size overlap between bedload particles and suspended-sediment particles, whereas the break between intermittent suspension and traction corresponds to the grain size at the lower limit of overlap of bedload particles and suspended-sediment particles. Although grain-size distributions of bedload change little with discharge, the size of the coarsest grains in suspension increases with increasing discharge. Thus, the length of overlap of bedload and suspended-sediment distributions increases with increasing discharge. The limits of grain-size overlap of bedload and suspended-sediment distribution curves associated with near-flood discharges most closely approximate the breaks in the bed material grain-size distribution.     

The Alluvial Geoarchaeology of the Sanyangzhuang Site on the Yellow River Floodplain,Henan Province,China

The Sanyangzhuang site, Henan Province, China, has a 12‐m‐deep stratigraphic sequence with remains from the Tang (A.D. 618–907), late Western Han (ca. 140 B.C.–A.D. 23), Warring States (475–221 B.C.), Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age (ca. 5000–1500 B.C.), Middle Holocene, and Early Holocene times. All of the paleosols are deeply buried. We investigate four issues relevant to the archaeology of the lower Yellow River Valley. First, we confirm that the Yellow River flowed north toward Bohai Bay throughout most of the Holocene. Second, we expand understanding of Holocene paleoenvironments. Long episodes of landscape stability punctuated by brief periods of Yellow River flooding represent the dominant environmental pattern. Third, we investigate how the complex relationships between climate, culture, and the environment affect Yellow River flooding, which in turn shapes Chinese civilization and history. Flooding in late Western Han times affected a vast area of north‐central China; this catastrophe contributed to the downfall of the late Western Han Dynasty. Finally, this research sheds light on the role of Yellow River alluviation in site burial and preservation. Rapid alluviation in the region has buried many archaeological sites. Settlement pattern research needs to take seriously the limitations placed on site visibility in quickly aggrading floodplains. However, gentle alluviation has also preserved settlements and entire landscapes providing unparalleled opportunities to explore the archaeological and historical record of the lower Yellow River Valley.     

Coastal morphology and late quaternary history,Cayman Islands,West Indies

Instrumental surveys of coastal profiles in the Cayman Islands, western Caribbean, reveal the presence of a horizontal erosional bench at +1.9 m on Grand Cayman and a deep horizontal notch at +6.4 m on Cayman Brac, but no raised erosional features on Little Cayman. Each island is surrounded by a horizontal constructional raised reef, usually below +2 m, here dated by U-series methods as 124,000 ± 8000 yr old, and hence broadly contemporary with other western Atlantic raised reefs of similar elevations. The different raised erosional features indicate independent vertical tectonic movement of the three islands, predating the formation of the raised reef. The accordance and horizontality of the raised reef indicates stability of the islands since the last interglacial times. An erosional notch at present sea level has formed since the sea reached its present level less than 2100 B.P., and algal benches on exposed coasts are also in equilibrium with present conditions.     

Abandoned shorelines and the late quaternary history of lake George,New South Wales

A study of the geomorphology, surficial sediments, and soils of the Lake George Basin, in particular those at its northwestern end, led to the recognition of a set of abandoned shoreline features lying at a range of altitudes up to 37 m above lake bottom. The altitudes and soils were used to establish a relative age sequence of abandoned shorelines which was related to an absolute time‐scale by radiocarbon dating.     

The late Cretaceous Arman flora of Magadan oblast,Northeastern Russia

The Arman flora from the volcanogenic-sedimentary beds of the Arman Formation is systematically studied using materials from the Arman River basin and the Nelkandya-Khasyn interfluve (Magadan oblast, Northeastern Russia). Seventy-three species of fossil plants belonging to 49 genera are described. They consist of liverworts, horsetails, ferns, seed ferns, cycadaleans, bennettitaleans, ginkgoaleans, czekanowskialeans, conifers, gymnosperms of uncertain systematic affinity, and angiosperms. The Arman flora shows a unique combination, with relatively ancient Early Cretaceous ferns and gymnosperms occurring alongside younger Late Cretaceous plants, primarily angiosperms. The similarity of the Arman flora to the Penzhina and Kaivayam floras of northwestern Kamchatka and the Tylpegyrgynai flora of the Pekul’nei Ridge allows the Arman flora to be dated as Turonian and Coniacian (Late Cretaceous), which is corroborated by isotopic (U-Pb and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar) age determination for the plant-bearing layers.     

A late quaternary pollen record from the Transvaal bushveld, South Africa

Pollen spectra from cores of organic spring deposits from the Transvaal provide evidence for the climatic evolution of the province during the last 35,000 yr B.P. or more. The past climatic phases are derived from palynological reconstructions of past vegetation types by comparison of fossil pollen data with modern surface pollen spectra from various localities. Evidence is provided for an early moist, cool phase with relatively mesic bushveld and expanded montane forest in the central Transvaal, followed by a drier period with drier bushveld which probably lasted until approximately 25,000 yr B.P. During the next phase, which at the latest ended about 11,000 yr B.P., the temperatures were probably 5°–6°C cooler than at present. At that time bushveld vegetation in the central Transvaal was replaced by open grassland with macchia elements. Climatic amelioration came and semiarid savanna returned to the plains, at first gradually and then developing into a warm Kalahari thornveld-type vegetation. After 6000 yr B.P. it apparently became slightly wetter and a more broad-leafed bushveld developed. About 4000 yr B.P. it again became cooler and slightly wetter and the bushveld vegetation on the central and northern plains was comparable to present open upland types. After 2000 yr B.P. conditions gradually became warner until about 1000 yr B.P., when the modern climate of the central Transvaal bushveld originated.     

雅鲁藏布江中游晚更新世古堰塞湖群的时空关系探讨

雅鲁藏布江中游堵江事件多发,探索堵江事件之间的关系对理解河流地貌演化有着重要作用。在中游宽谷地区,众多河流堆积阶地中保存着古堰塞湖相沉积物。前人对林芝地区、泽当宽谷和日喀则宽谷的古湖相沉积进行了较为深入的研究,三个宽谷在晚更新世均发育过古堰塞湖,但三个地区古堰塞湖之间的时空关系仍未可知。在上述基础上,对雅鲁藏布江中游不同河段古堰塞湖的坝体位置、成因、海拔及发育年代等进行总结分析。归纳出在雅鲁藏布江中游宽谷河段分别发育着3个独立的古堰塞湖,成因多为冰川/冰碛物堵江。晚更新世不同河段降水和地貌条件差异,冰川规模变化速率不同,可能导致冰川前进壅塞河道时间不一致;但3个古堰塞湖的消亡时间较为接近,其溃决过程可能存在关联。     

Description and hydraulic interpretation of grain size cumulative curves from the Platte River system

Log-probability plots of grain-size distribution from the Platte, North Platte, and South Platte rivers are composed of four or five straight line segments. The line segments are grouped, dividing each curve into three regions. These regions are interpreted as subpopulations moved by different transport mechanisms. Consideration of the criterion for suspension and calculation of shear velocities associated with dominant discharges support this interpretation. The grain size cumulative curves are similar to each other but distinct from curves of fluvial systems transporting only fine-grained material, the difference being the presence of a subpopulation of grains moved in traction transport. One of two possible relationships seems to exist between the grain-size distributions and flow conditions within the Platte River system. Estimated shear velocities derived by varying flow conditions within reasonable limits predict a range of grain sizes within which the break between the intermittent suspension and traction loads should occur. This break appears to be associated with intermediate shear velocities if truncated normal distributions are assumed; but if overlapping distributions are assumed, the ‘break'is associated with estimated maximum shear velocities.     

Fossil insect evidence for late pleistocene paleoenvironments of the lamb spring site,Colorado

The study of Quarternary insect fossils has shown their value as paleoenvironmental indicators, especially during times of rapid climatic change, and this method is now being introduced into North America archeological studies. Abundant insect fossils have been recovered from 13,000 year old detrital organic materials from silty clays at the Lamb Spring site, south of Denver, Colorado. The spring deposits also contain bones of extinct camel and mammoth, thought to have been modified by human hunters. The late Pleistocene insect fauna from Lamb Spring comprises 71 identified taxa from 6 orders and 14 families, principally beetles, providing substantial paleoenvironmental data. The beetle fauna is a mixture of grassland and mountain elements, and they appear to represent an environment similar to that found today in high mountain valleys, such as South Park, Colorado. Based on this fauna, mean summer temperatures at 13,140 B.P. were probably 10°C cooler than present.     

Late quaternary geomorphological change and the origins of agriculture in south central Turkey

This study investigates the relationship between environmental change and the origins of agriculture in the Near East, with special reference to the Konya and Beysehir-Sušla Basins of south central Anatolia. The Konya Basin, now largely dry, was formerly occupied by an extensive lake, which last attained a high level between 23,000 and 17,000 years ago. It is concluded that there was only an indirect link between the drying up of the former Konya Lake and the appearance of early agricultural (Neolithic) settlements on the floor of the plain. An equally important factor was the creation of new land and water resources which resulted from changes in river regimes and alluvial sedimentation after the end of the Pleistocene. Neolithic sites were not only clustered on water-retentive alluvial soils, but have also been partly buried by Holocene alluviation. The revised site chronology which follows from these geoarchaeological observations has significant implications for the interpretation of the Neolithic settlement system in south central Turkey.