The influence of paleofloods on archaeological settlement patterns during A.D. 1050-1170 along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

Soils, sediments, and geoarcheology. Special issue

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

ANDERSON, K.C.

Northern Arizona Univ., Etats-Unis

Museum of Northern Arizona, Etats-Unis

NEFF, T.

Museum of Northern Arizona, Etats-Unis

BENEDETTI, M.M.

Dep. of Geography and Geology, Univ. of North Carolina, Wilmington, Etats-Unis

CORDOVA, C.E.

Dep. of Geography, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, Etats-Unis

BEACH, T.

School of Foreign Service, Georgetown Univ., Washington, Etats-Unis

Description :
By combining new geomorphic, stratigraphic, and archaeological data collected during recent excavations with results from previous geomorphic and sediment transport studies, observed trends can be interpreted regarding the possible influence of paleofloods on past settlement patterns in the Grand Canyon. For example, at each of the 4 sites, reconstructed paleoflood elevations, flood recurrence intervals, site layout, and site stratigraphy/geomorphic setting suggest a temporal trend in site location. The AA. suggest that early farmers may not have had adequate experience with flood magnitudes and frequencies and therefore their habitation structures were located in risk-prone areas relatively close to the river. Later habitations were positioned in more protected areas further from the river, perhaps reflecting an acquired knowledge of river dynamics.

Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2011, vol. 85, n°. 2, p. 168-186, nombre de pages : 19, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais