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- 88th-annual-meeting-abstracts-_portland_or_2023__-247
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How to deal with homogeneous stratigraphies: excavation, sampling, and analysis strategies at Umhlatuzana Rockshelter, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
where possible, follow the natural stratigraphic subdivisions in a sedimentary sequence. In cases with a single,
unchanging source of sedimentary input, this may pose challenges. We present our strategies to deal with a
>2 m deep homogeneous Pleistocene stratigraphy at Umhlatuzana rockshelter in South Africa, yielding
archaeological remains from the Middle Stone Age. The site was originally excavated during a rescue project in 5–10 cm deep artificial spits for lack of visible stratigraphy. We revisited the shelter in 2018 and 2019. We integrate current standard practice such as piece-plotting archaeological materials with digital methods such as cluster analysis and geoarchaeological analyses (e.g., micromorphology, sedimentological analyses, geochemical...Show more To ensure proper context control for archaeological samples, it is crucial that excavations determine and,
where possible, follow the natural stratigraphic subdivisions in a sedimentary sequence. In cases with a single,
unchanging source of sedimentary input, this may pose challenges. We present our strategies to deal with a
>2 m deep homogeneous Pleistocene stratigraphy at Umhlatuzana rockshelter in South Africa, yielding
archaeological remains from the Middle Stone Age. The site was originally excavated during a rescue project in 5–10 cm deep artificial spits for lack of visible stratigraphy. We revisited the shelter in 2018 and 2019. We integrate current standard practice such as piece-plotting archaeological materials with digital methods such as cluster analysis and geoarchaeological analyses (e.g., micromorphology, sedimentological analyses, geochemical analyses) to track the different sources of sedimentary input. We also develop an intensive sediment sampling strategy to illuminate geochemical variation within the sequence and postdepositional alterations affecting preservation conditions. We manage to reconstruct a natural stratigraphy of the site combining these methodologies, resulting in a radically changed understanding of the stratigraphy, depositional environment, and mechanisms of postdepositional disturbance.
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- All authors
- Dusseldorp, G.L.; Huisman, H.; Karkanas, P.; Reidsma, F.H.; Sifogeorgaki, I.
- Date
- 2023-04-01
- Link
- https://documents.saa.org/container/docs/default-source/doc-annualmeetin...(portland_or_2023).pdf?sfvrsn=b98cc9a3_4
Conference
- Conference
- SAA conference
- Date
- 2023-03-29 - 2023-04-02
- Location
- Portland, United States of America
Funding
- Sponsorship
- NWO
- Grant number
- Vidi 276-60-004