[meteorite-list] Archaeologists and Geoarchaeologists Studying Carolina Bays

[Paul H.]

According to the March 2010, “Newsletter of the 
Archaeological Geology Division of the Geological
Society America, there is an ongoing research program
concerning the Carolina Bays. This newsletter states:

“Over the last year, the Savannah River Archaeological 
Research Program (SRARP) has initiated a volunteer‐based 
research program investigating Carolina bays. The proposed 
research of Carolina bays involves utilizing dedicated avocational 
archaeologists and the interested public in an ongoing and 
systematic study of Carolina bay archaeology, geoarchaeology 
and geomorphology. This long‐term Carolina bay study by the
SRARP addresses four basic research objectives. These are: 1)
determining the age, origin, and evolution of Carolina bays;
2) delineating prehistoric cultural activities and site formation
processes on Carolina bay sand rims; 3) determining the role
of Carolina bays in prehistoric settlement systems; and 4)
exploring linkages at Carolina bays between climate change,
depositional processes, and prehistoric adaptations.”

For three Carolina Bays, they have already examined the
archaeostratigraphy of the bay rims. Part of this examination
include sampling for “grain size, soil chemistry, biogenic silica, 
sediment bulk density, LOI, field water content, micromorphology 
and magnetic susceptibility. They are also delineating the 
internal stratigraphy of the bay rims using Ground Penetrating 
Radar (GPR) surveys. Also, they sampled sediments comprising 
the rims of these Carolina Bays, including the basal bay rim
deposits and archaeologically stratified deposits comprising
the upper meter of the sand rims for high‐resolution single‐grain 
luminescence (OSL) dating. 

Given that they are using single‐grain luminescence (OSL)
dating, they will be able to unequivocally determine whether
the OSL dates are apparent dates or true dates and provide 
definite dates concerning the age(s) of the Carolina Bays that
can be used to reconstruct the geochronology of these Carolina
‘Bays.

Finally, the announcements states:

"Preliminary results will be presented at the upcoming joint 
Northeastern/Southeastern Geological Society of America 
Conference in Baltimore, Maryland."

The 2010 Newsletter can be found at:
http://rock.geosociety.org/arch/Newsletter/32/32_1.pdf
http://rock.geosociety.org/arch/GSA_news.htm

Best Wishes

Paul H.