Correlation of archaeological sites and soil phase criteria

Archaeologists have often speculated about the role of soil in the selection of prehistoricarchaeological site locations. These locations may be temporary or permanent settlements as well as isolated finds resulting from transient activities such as hunting. As an ecological factor, it would seem ev...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Wells, Kathleen
Other Authors: Ball State University. Dept. of Anthropology.
Format: Others
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/183836
http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/562768
Description
Summary:Archaeologists have often speculated about the role of soil in the selection of prehistoricarchaeological site locations. These locations may be temporary or permanent settlements as well as isolated finds resulting from transient activities such as hunting. As an ecological factor, it would seem evident that soil played some part in the decision-making process. A review of recent literature reveals limited studies in this area. Several different approaches to the problem have been attempted. Recent research in the Central Indiana Wabash and Maumee drainages has been used develop a predictive model for this selection process based on the location of 890 sites on specific soils. The model has been tested with additional sites from various counties throughout Southern Indiana.The predictive model is based on the percentage of the original 890 sites which were located on each soil and on the resulting probability of finding additional sites on similar soils. The percentage of sites on each soil drainage class from the very poor to the excessively drained classes creates a curve similar to a normal curve. The test sites from the southern part of Indiana create a similar curve. === Department of Anthropology