GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF DUNE FORMATION AND ARTIFACT DEPOSITION AT BARBER CREEK (31PT259)
Loading...
Date
2009-03
Access
Authors
McFadden, Paulette S
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The stratified prehistoric site at Barber Creek, located on a relict sand dune in
eastern North Carolina, has the potential to offer important insights into the previously
poorly understood chronologies and typologies of the coastal plain region of the state.
This study investigated how and when the dune formed, and how this formation relates to
occupation and artifact deposition. Several lines of evidence were used in this study,
including artifact analysis, sedimentology and geomorphology, ground penetrating radar
(GPR), and a suite of radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates.
The evidence suggests that after 12,900 years ago, aeolian sediments accumulated on the
elevated landform, after which time Archaic groups occupied the site. Sometime after
9,000 years ago, it appears that human occupation decreased and is associated with an
increase in aeolian sedimentation. Sometime before 2,400 years ago, Middle and Late
Archaic, and later Woodland groups reoccupied the now stabilized land form and
remained until sometime after around 1,000 years ago.