New evidence concerning the Plio-Pleistocene landscape evolution of southern Santa Cruz region

Remnants of an old aggradational landscape, Cerro Cuadrado Proglacial, are preserved on top of the high mesetas Pampa Alta and La Meseta on both sides of the upper Santa Cruz river valley, South Patagonia.A first dissection of the mesetas, attributable to extended river erosion, predates the expansion of glacier lobes down the piedmontane area. The glacial advance is represented by the moraines of Pampa Alta Glaciation displayed on the top of Meseta Pampa Alta. Glacifluvial outlets contribute to the proglacial plain, Pampa Alta Proglacial, which is widespread to the southeast.Strong and persistent fluvial erosion followed the retreat of the ice masses leading to the formation of several terrace levels in the main upper valley, La Australasia Terraces and San Fernando Terraces, and a step, Cordón Alto, that truncates the Meseta Pampa Alta. These foreland features and the relief covered by the basalts at Cerro Fraile in the cordillera, are probably a consequence of a diastrophic phase that affected both areas during this stage.Late Pliocene basaltic lavas draining into the main and tributary valleys overran this landscape. The evidence indicates that during the eruption of the basalts the glaciation was active in the cordillera and that coeval fluvial and lacustrine aggradation took place in the extra-andean valleys.During the Middle Pleistocene subsequent lava flows covered the high pampas and partially occupied the fluvial valleys again. After this last volcanic episode the glaciers reached their maximum expansion to the east.     

Effects of the Santa Cruz harbor on coastal processes of northern Monterey Bay,California

An average of 230,000 cubic meters of sand is provided to the beaches of northern Monterey Bay each year by littoral transport from upcoast and from local river input. Two jetties constructed as part of a small craft harbor interrupted the littoral flow of sand and significantly altered the area's natural coastal processes. A wide protective beach immediately formed upcoast against a formerly retreating beach cliff. Sand now filling the harbor mouth each winter has led to expensive yearly dredging as well as seasonally or permanently depleted downcoast beaches. Seacliff retreat, always a problem in the area, is caused primarily by surf attack of weaker stratigraphic units and erosion along joint sets and faults, causing collapse of the bluffs. The seasonal loss of protective beaches has led to a two- to three-fold increase in the rate of downcoast cliff retreat following harbor construction except where protective rip-rap has been emplaced by property owners.     

Geomorphic analysis of Hohokam settlement patterns on alluvial fans along the western Flank of the Tortolita Mountains,Arizona

Geoarchaeological investigations of the alluvial piedmont or bajada emanating from the Tortolita Mountains, Arizona, show that the distribution of Hohokam sites apparent from the surface is complete and undisturbed by geological processes. Late Holocene geomorphic processes and their resultant deposits on the bajada affected the location of prehistoric Hohokam agricultural settlements. Hohokam settlements were commonly situated on small alluvial fans dominated by sheetwash processes and deposition of fine-grained alluvium, where floodwater farming could be easily pursued with little modification of the natural surface. Large alluvial fans, dominated by channel processes and coarse-grained alluvium were avoided by the Hohokam farmer because these areas were less suitable for floodwater farming.     

Impact of agricultural development on regional drainage in the lower Santa Cruz valley,Arizona, U.S.A.

The development of irrigation agriculture on valley floors in the southwestern United States has substantially altered natural drainage systems. This study discusses five anthropogenic factors that have altered the hydrologic function of a dryland basin floor in south-central Arizona. These factors are: (1) upstream urbanization and channel entrenchment, (2) dam construction, (3) artificial diversion of drainage, (4) obstruction of flow by transportation routes, and (5) stream channelization. The first two factors have altered hydrologic inputs to the basin floor, the third and fourth factors have changed regional and local patterns of flooding, and the fifth factor has resulted in channel instability and reduced flood attenuation. These five factors, along with a recent increase in the frequency of incursions of tropical moisture into southern Arizona, have enhanced flow variability and the potential for devastating flooding on the basin floor. This research demonstrates the need for basin-wide approaches to stream management in drylands and illustrates the importance of basing management decisions on geomorphic information concerning fluvial forms and processes.     

Sediment distribution and depositional processes along the fluvial to marine transition zone of the Mekong River delta,Vietnam

The area of coastal rivers with a combination of fluvial, tidal and wave processes is defined as the fluvial to marine transition zone and can extend up to several hundreds of kilometres upstream of the river mouth. The aim of this study is to improve the understanding of sediment distribution and depositional processes along the fluvial to marine transition zone using a comprehensive dataset of channel bed sediment samples collected from the Mekong River delta. Six sediment types were identified and were interpreted to reflect the combined action of fluvial and marine processes. Based on sediment‐type associations, the Mekong fluvial to marine transition zone could be subdivided into an upstream tract and a downstream tract; the boundary between these two tracts is identified 80 to 100 km upstream of the river mouth. The upstream tract is characterized by gravelly sand and sand and occasional heterolithic rhythmites, suggesting bed‐load supply and deposition mainly controlled by fluvial processes with subordinate tidal influence. The downstream tract is characterized by heterolithic rhythmites with subordinate sand and mud, suggesting suspended‐load supply and deposition mainly controlled by tidal processes with subordinate fluvial influence. Sediment distributions during wet and dry seasons suggest significant seasonal changes in sediment dynamic and depositional processes along the fluvial to marine transition zone. The upstream tract shows strong fluvial depositional processes with subordinate tidal influence during the wet season and no deposition with weak fluvial and tidal processes during the dry season. The downstream tract shows strong coexisting fluvial and tidal depositional processes during the wet season and strong tidal depositional processes with negligible fluvial influence during the dry season. Turbidity maxima are present along the downstream tract of the fluvial to marine transition zone during both wet and dry seasons and are driven by a combination of fluvial, tidal and wave processes.     

Upper Holocene sea-level changes: Paleogeographic evolution and its impact on coastal archaeological sites and monuments

The paper presents the evolution of the geographic environment imposed by sea-level changes in selected sites of the Aegean Sea region during the Upper Holocene. The changes are due, mainly, to paroxysmic phases of the actual neotectonic evolution and to differential—in time and space—block movements, and emerged or submerged coasts. The reconstitution of these coasts is presented and, in some cases, natural harbor morphology is revealed. The use and evolution of these sites is discussed. Other sites concern coastal or inland ancient settlements or constructions affected by submersion by the sea, by the rise of the groundwater table, or by uplift movements. A general discussion on engineering measures to be applied for protection of the antiquities affected by these geographic changes closes the presentation.     

Holocene landscape evolution and its impact on the neolithic and bronze age sites in the Shangqiu area,Northern China

The Shangqiu area, situated on the alluvial plain of the lower Yellow River, is traditionally considered the center of the predynastic and early Shang culture. Archaeologic remains dating to predynastic and dynastic Shang periods, however, have remained elusive. The current pattern of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites is characterized by their upland settings; and it has been often assumed that the area had the same landscape from the Neolithic through recent historic time. The potential impact of geomorphic processes on these early sites has been hardly considered in developing archaeologic models of temporal and spatial distribution of these sites. This article first presents a reconstruction of the Holocene floodplain history in the archaeologically significant area. On the basis of stratigraphy and sedimentology, a Holocene landscape evolution model is constructed to explore the interrelationship between evolving landscape and archaeologic record of the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The prolonged landscape stability from very late Pleistocene or early Holocene to 2000 yr B. P. provided potential Neolithic and Bronze Age human occupation with a favorable physical environment. After 2000 yr B. P., the hydrologic regime changed and the floodplain experienced 2-3 m of gradual vertical accretion during the following millennium. In response to the dramatic change of hydro-logic regime after the early 12th century A. D., a new floodplain formed by dominantly overbank deposition, and the old floodplain surfaces are covered by as much as ten meters of the younger alluvium. As a result, a pronounced effect has been imposed on the preservation, visibility, and discovery of the Neolithic and Bronze Age sites, including those sites of predynastic and early Shang phases. Thus, much difficulty has been imparted to our understanding of the configuration of these early archaeologic sites. This study demonstrates the usefulness of landscape reconstruction in developing settlement models of Neolithic and Bronze age sites in the area.     

Establishing rates of karst landscape evolution in the Tropics: a context for the formation of archaeological sites in western Flores,Indonesia

Tropical landscapes evolve at a rapid rate, creating stepped alluvial terraces, dense basin and cone topographies and multilevel cave systems. An understanding of the rate of landscape evolution is crucial for understanding how landscapes respond to tectonic instability and for reconstructing landscapes that have changed over archaeological timescales. The rate of landscape incision as a proxy for karst landscape evolution in Indonesia, a key region in the path of human dispersal, has been established using the rate of karstification – by estimating a chronology for stages of cave development using thermal ionisation mass spectrometry U‐series dating on flowstones, and the rate of downcutting – by establishing a chronology for a series of alluvial terraces using red thermoluminescence dating. Using these techniques we have determined that the estimated rate of karstification (113 ± 26 mm ka^?1) is slower than the average rate of downcutting (305 ± 24 mm ka^?1), and the combined rate of landscape incision (217 ± 18 mm ka^?1) is slower than the known rate of tectonic uplift for this region derived from raised coral terraces (450 ± 50 mm ka^?1). This suggests that rivers are quicker to respond to tectonic instability, but both cave and river systems display a slower rate of incision and karstification than uplift. Correlations between these components of the landscape system reveal a strong, interacting relationship where defined phases of uplift are reflected in the pattern of karstification and cycles of downcutting. An understanding of this relationship has been pivotal in reconstructing the formation and geomorphic history of archaeological caves such as Liang Bua. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of fluvial geomorphic processes in the dispersal of heavy metals from mine sites

It is not uncommon for more than 90% of the total metal load in rivers to be transported in the solid phase, either sorbed onto particle surfaces and coatings, or incorporated into mineral grains. Fluvial geomorphic processes are therefore of fundamental importance in the transport and fate of heavy metals derived from mine sites. In this paper, the role of physical processes in the dispersal of heavy metals in river systems are reviewed for channels that have (1) remained relatively unchanged in terms of process and form following the introduction of mine wastes, and (2) exhibited a significant metamorphosis in channel form in response to the influx of mining and milling debris. In general, all processes responsible for the variations in metal concentrations within sediments moving through stable channels also operate in channels undergoing metamorphosis. However, downstream, lateral, and vertical patterns in metal values tend to be more complex where channel transformations have occurred. This complexity results, in part, because temporal and spatial changes in the types, rates, and magnitudes of erosional and depositional processes lead to highly variable stratigraphic sequences of post-mining age, and because greater quantities of contaminated debris is stored along the channel margins where it can be eroded and sporadically redistributed during times of flood.     

Impact of monsoonal climatic change on Holocene overbank flooding along Sushui River,middle reach of the Yellow River,China

In the semiarid loess regions, slackwater deposition of overbank flooding over the piedmont alluvial plains was episodic and alternated with dust accumulation and soil formation throughout the Holocene. The records of past hydrological events are therefore preserved within the architecture of loess and soils and are protected from subsequent erosion and destruction. Several Holocene loess–soil sequences with the deposits of overbank flooding over the semiarid piedmont alluvial plains in the southeast part of the middle reaches of the Yellow River drainage basin were investigated by field observation, OSL and C¹⁴ dating, measurement of magnetic susceptibility, particle-size distribution and chemical elements. This enables the reconstruction of a complete catalog of Holocene overbank flooding events at a watershed scale and an investigation of hydrological response to monsoonal climatic change as well. During the Holocene, there are six episodes of overbank flooding recorded over the alluvial plain. The first occurred at 11,500–11,000 a BP, i.e. the onset of the Holocene. The second took place at 9500–8500 a BP, immediately before the mid-Holocene Climatic Optimum. After an extended geomorphic stability and soil formation, the third overbank flooding episode came at about 3620–3520 a BP, i.e. the late stage of the mid-Holocene Climatic Optimum, and the floodwater inundated and devastated a Bronze-age town of the Xia Culture built on the alluvial plain, and therefore the town was abandoned for a period of ca 100 years. During the late Holocene, the alluvial plain experienced three episodes of overbank flooding at 2420–2170, 1860–1700 and 680–100 a BP, respectively. The occurrence of these overbank flooding episodes corresponds to the anomalous change in monsoonal climate in the middle reaches of the Yellow River drainage basin when rapid climate change or climatic decline occurs. During at least the last four episodes, both extreme floods and droughts occurred and climate departed from its normal condition, which was defined as a balanced change between the northwestern continental monsoon and southeastern maritime monsoon over time. Great floods occurred as a result of extreme rainstorms in summers caused by rare intensive meridianal airflows involving northwestward moving tropical cyclone systems from the Pacific. These results could be applied to improve our understanding of high-resolution climatic change, and of hydrological response to climatic change in the semiarid zones.     

若尔盖黄河唐克段河岸沉积序列测年及地表过程变化

通过对若尔盖盆地进行野外考察,在盆地中部黄河唐克段右岸发现了包含深湖相的河岸沉积物,进行了细致的地层观测和系统年代学样品采集。在实验室利用光释光和AMS¹⁴C测年技术建立了年代框架,并结合各个层次的地层沉积相宏观特征和理化性质,分析探讨了若尔盖盆地内部从末次冰期古湖消亡以来的环境和地表过程变化规律。研究结果表明：古黄河在37 ka沿着玛曲断陷谷地溯源侵蚀,沟通了若尔盖古湖水系,盆地内部在30.9 ka之前为深湖环境,稳定地沉积了蓝灰色湖相淤泥层。30.9 ka之后,黄河贯穿若尔盖湖盆内部,古湖水外泄消失,原有的古湖水系转变成为黄河源水系。黄河从湖盆上游远距离搬运携带来的浊黄橙色泥沙大量沉积,覆盖了古湖相沉积层,湖盆内部风沙作用盛行。在末次冰盛期（Last Glacial Maximum, LGM）,盆地内部松散沉积物普遍地受到冰缘冻融作用的改造,形成了冻融褶皱现象。到了14.6~12.5 ka,响应B/A（B?lling-Aller?d）时期的温暖气候,盆地周边山地冰川消融,冰融水汇入盆地,古湖盆底部各种浅洼地形成了大小不等的浅湖,沉积了滨浅湖相的沙层。在12.5~11.7 ka,对应于全球性新仙女木（Younger Dryas,YD）事件,盆地气候再次变冷,转变为冰缘冻土环境,盆地内部滨浅湖相的沙层受到冻融作用和古地震扰动,形成复式褶皱现象。进入全新世,在11.7~4.8 ka气候逐渐变得温暖湿润,古湖盆底部浅洼地积水成为淤泥质沼泽环境,在全新世中后期4.8~1.8 ka则转变成为沼泽草甸环境,在1.8 ka之后,盆地内沼泽面积收缩,风沙活动盛行,河岸台地的近源沙尘暴沉积物经过成壤改造形成亚高山草甸黑土类现代土壤。     

Holocene eolian activation as a proxy for broad-scale landscape change on the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona

Eolian sediments are common within the middle Gila River Valley, southern Arizona, and reflect variability in eolian and fluvial processes during the late Holocene. This study focuses on deciphering the stratigraphic record of eolian deposition and associated luminescence dating of quartz extracts by single aliquot regeneration (SAR) protocols. Stratigraphic assessment coupled with luminescence ages indicates that there are four broad eolian depositional events at ca. 3145 ± 220 yr, 1950-1360 yr, 800 ± 100 yr, and 690-315 yr. This nascent chronology, correlated with regional archeological evidence and paleoclimate proxy datasets, leads to two general conclusions: (1) loess deposits, transverse-dune formation and sand-sheet deposition in the late Holocene are probably linked to flow variability of the Gila River, though the last two events are concordant with regional megadroughts; and (2) the stability of eolian landforms since the 19th century reflects the lack of eolian sediment supply during a period of fluvial incision, resulting in Entisol formation on dunes. The prime catalyst of eolian activity during the late Holocene is inferred to be sediment supply, driven by climate periodicity and variable flow within the Gila River catchment.     

Interplay between tectonic, fluvial and erosional processes along the Western Border Fault of the northern Upper Rhine Graben, Germany

The northern Upper Rhine Graben, situated in the central part of the European Cenozoic rift system, is currently characterized by low intra-plate seismicity. Historical earthquakes have not been large enough to produce surface rupturing. Moreover, the records of Quaternary surface processes and human modifications are presumably better preserved than the record of the relatively slow tectonic deformation.In order to gain information on the neotectonic activity and paleoseismicity in this setting, the geological and geomorphological records of fault movements along a segment of the Western Border Fault (WBF) were studied using an integration of techniques in paleoseismology, structural analysis and shallow geophysics. The WBF segment investigated follows a 20 km long linear scarp of unclear origin. A series of geophysical measurements were performed and the results suggested that near-surface deformation structures are present at the segments' southern end. Several trenches opened at this location revealed fault structures with consistent extensional style and a maximum vertical displacement of 0.5 m. In one trench, the deformation structures were dated between 19 and 8 ka. Assuming the deformation has been caused by an earthquake, a M_w 6.5 earthquake would be implied. Aseismic deformation would point to a fault creep rate ≥ 0.04 mm/yr.A reconstruction of the sequence of events at the trench site, from Middle Pleistocene to Present, demonstrates that the morphology at the base of the scarp is the result of interplay between tectonic activity and fluvial and erosional processes. At the regional scale, a mixed origin for the WBF scarp is proposed, combining the effects of fluvial dynamics, erosion, regional uplift and localized tectonic activity on the WBF.     

Hydrochemistry and pollution probability of selected sites along the Euphrates River, Western Iraq

The hydrochemistry of Euphrates River in the study area which extended from Hit to Al-Saqlawia was studied in order to determine the physical, chemical, and biological properties in addition to the radiation level. Thirty-one stations along the Euphrates River were chosen, 17 of them represented the Euphrates River itself, whereas the other stations are considered as point pollution sources which all empty their load directly in the Euphrates River with an average total discharge of 32 m³/s. Twenty-eight samples of the Euphrates water of both high- and low-flow periods were analyzed for cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺), anions (SO ₄ ⁼ , Cl^?, CO ₃ ⁼ , HCO ₃ ^? , NO ₃ ^? , PO ₄ ^?3 ), H₂S boron, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, bacteriological tests, radiation levels in addition to physical parameters such as hydrogen number (pH), total dissolved solid, electrical conductivity, total suspended solid, and temperature. This study showed that the cations and anions during periods of high and low flows are within acceptable limit with exceptional Cl^?. Hydrochemical formula during the high flow was Na-Ca-Mg-Cl-SO₄, then it changed into Na-Ca-Mg-HCO3-SO₄-Cl during the low-flow period. The average output cations and anions at downstream (Saqlawiya area) was relatively higher than those of input at upstream (Hit area); this attributed to the natural and anthropogenic activities originated mainly from agricultural activity and population communities around the river. Radiation level for ²¹²Pb, ²¹⁴Pb, ⁴⁰k, ²²⁰Ac, and ²¹⁴Bi showed that the higher level of radiation is concentrated within sediment rather than in water, but the radiation in both is within acceptable limit.     

Floodplain formation processes and archaeological implications at the Grand Banks site,lower Grand River,southern, Ontario

Processes of floodplain development and the record of Princess Point cultural occupation (A.D. 500–1000) were examined at the Grand Banks site in the lower Grand River of southern Ontario. The Princess Point Complex of the early Late Woodland is significant because it represents the first shift to horticulture in this region in which inhabitants made significant use of floodplains. The floodplain of the lower Grand River has been constructed primarily via vertical accretion of sediment in a low energy environment conducive to limited erosion and slow burial of middle and late Holocene sediments. At this site, cultural materials are preferentially preserved in two buried soils each corresponding to relatively stable periods of valley infilling at or before 3200 B.P. and 1500 B.P. (¹⁴C years). Initial formation of the floodplain and subsequent stability of the floodplain surface can be tied to middle Holocene, and later, base-level fluctuations in Lake Erie. Understanding floodplain development is crucial in determining the linkages between settlement pattern and chronology, and, conversely, the archaeological record in floodplain settings provides important contemporary data for modeling floodplain geomorphological processes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Delineation of spatial-temporal patterns of groundwater/surface-water interaction along a river reach (Aa River,Belgium) with transient thermal modeling

Among the advances made in analytical and numerical analysis methods to quantify groundwater/surface-water interaction, one methodology that stands out is the use of heat as an environmental tracer. A large data set of river and riverbed temperature profiles from the Aa River in Belgium has been used to examine the spatial-temporal variations of groundwater/surface-water interaction. Exchange fluxes were calculated with the numerical heat-transport code STRIVE. The code was applied in transient mode to overcome previous limitations of steady-state analysis, and allowed for the calculation of model quality. In autumn and winter the mean exchange fluxes reached ?90 mm d^?1, while in spring and early summer fluxes were ?42 mm d^?1. Predominantly gaining conditions occurred along the river reach; however, in a few areas the direction of flow changed in time. The river banks showed elevated fluxes up to a factor of 3 compared to the center of the river. Higher fluxes were detected in the upstream section of the reach. Due to the influence of exchange fluxes along the river banks, larger temporal variations were found in the downstream section. The exchange fluxes at the river banks seemed more driven by variable local exchange flows, while the center of the river was dominated by deep and steady regional groundwater flows. These spatial and temporal differences in groundwater/surface-water exchange show the importance of long-term investigations on the driving forces of hyporheic processes across different scales.     

长江南京河段河床纵向冲刷深度厘定方法剖析

长江属于特大型河流,其河床纵向冲刷深度影响到穿、跨越长江工程的方案设计与施工方法确定.本文通过几个对长江南京河段河床纵向冲刷深度厘定结果的对比分析,剖析了这几种厘定方法的适应性.长江多年非汛期水下地形图测量结果,实际反映的是河道多年冲淤动态趋势,不能代表洪水期大洪水对河床的冲刷作用,这种冲刷深度不能正确反映其河床纵向冲刷深度;汛期实测的纵向冲刷深度,有时包含着深槽与浅滩相互转化过程的假象,不能依此为根据而同其它断面进行纵向冲刷深度类比;动床河工模型试验被公认为可以解决这一难题,但也受到试验过程中诸如边界假定、相似性取值(即相似比尺)的影响,各家试验结果有所不同,再者,由于动床河工模型试验周期较长,对于时间紧迫的工程决策,往往难以采用,而采用工程地质分析法确定河床纵向冲刷深度亦较适宜.     

Ice wastage and landscape evolution along the southern margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, north-central Wisconsin

The Chippewa and Wisconsin Valley Lobes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet reached their maximum extent in north-central Wisconsin about 20 000 years ago. Their terminal positions are marked by a broad area of hummocky topography, containing many ice-walled-lake plains, which is bounded on the up-ice and down-ice sides by ice-contact ridges and outwash fans. The distribution of these ice-disintegration landforms shows that a wide zone of stagnant, debris-covered, debris-rich ice separated from the active margins of both lobes as they wasted northward during deglaciation. Accumulation of thick, uncollapsed sediment in ice-walled lakes high in the ice-cored landscape indicates a period of stability. In contrast, hummocky disintegration topography indicates unstable conditions. Thus, we interpret two phases of late-glacial landscape evolution. During the first phase, ice buried beneath thick supraglacial sediment was stable. Supraglacial lakes formed on the ice surface and some melted their way to solid ground and formed ice-walled lakes. During the second phase, buried ice began to melt rapidly, hummocky topography formed by topographic inversion, and supraglacial and ice-walled lakes drained. We suggest that ice wastage was controlled primarily by climatic conditions and supraglacial-debris thickness. Late-glacial permafrost in northern Wisconsin likely delayed wastage of buried ice until after about 13 000 years ago, when climate warmed and permafrost thawed.     

常山港流域岩性对地貌演化的控制

地貌形态是构造活动、气候变化和地表过程相互作用的结果。在构造活跃地区,控制地貌演化的因素已有大量讨论,而在构造沉寂地区,相关研究却相对缺乏。常山港是钱塘江南源,其流域盆地位于扬子地块东南缘。新生代以来区内构造运动并不活跃,岩性、地貌较为复杂,河流网络显示出非稳态特征。文章以常山港流域为研究对象,探讨构造沉寂地区控制地貌演化的因素,并使用积分方法对常山港流域进行地貌分析,提取出河道参数X以及河道标准化陡峭指数（k_sn）,进而从X图中提取出河道裂点与河道k_sn的空间分布,将其与区域内的断裂分布进行比较。结果显示,河道裂点和河道k_sn与断裂无显著关系,现今常山港流域范围内构造活动性弱,但众多河流裂点的出现说明地貌演化尚未达到稳定状态。河道k_sn空间分布与岩性单元分布的对比结果显示,河道k_sn与岩性差异显著相关,表明岩性是现今控制常山港流域地貌演化的主要因素。

     

The effects of burrowing activity on archaeological sites: Ndondondwane,South Africa

Burrowing activity is a widely recognized source of site modification. Most taphonomic studies of burrowers emphasize their destructive aspects on the archaeological record. Excavations at Ndondondwane, South Africa, suggest burrowing activity is destructive in some ways, but may also preserve cultural behavior. Drawing on both direct and indirect sources of evidence, we discuss how burrowing activity by rodents, earthworms, and termites can inform about pedogenic and depositional processes at archaeological sites and both preserve and destroy evidence of intra‐settlement patterns and early African cultigens. Specifically, we demonstrate the limited effect of earthworms on site stratigraphy, how the localized activity of termites have preserved casts of early African cultigens, and how the ability of archaeologists to distinguish the devastating effects of rodent burrowing from remains of architectural features have permitted important inferences about social and ritual life in early African farming communities. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.