Regional Paleosols Associated with Buried Archaeology Sites in River Valleys of the Southeastern US

Buried archaeology sites are associated with regional paleosols preserved in fluvial landforms of the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge in the southeastern U.S. Paleosols on the Piedmont are typically illuvial B-horizons in contrast to the well preserved, buried A-horizons of the Valley and Ridge. These buried soils form important chronostratigraphic marker horizons that can be mapped throughout the drainage basins in these two physiographic provinces. Holocene alluvium occurs on the T1 terrace with Early Archaic sites associated with a deeply buried paleosol in the base of the terrace. Middle and Late Archaic sites occur in an overlying cambic horizon and stratified Woodland occupations can be preserved in cumulative A-horizons in shallow alluvial deposits.

Archaeology sites are also associated with paleosols buried in alluvial landforms of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Pedo-stratigraphy varies between landforms within these drainage basins. Formation and preservation of buried soils in first and second order mountain streams appear to be controlled by local conditions within the stream valley. Controlling factors could include location of narrows, landform elevation, distance to trunk and tributary streams and movement of weather systems through the steep terrain.

Paleosols in stream valleys of the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge are regional chronostratigraphic marker horizons that form and are preserved by variations in sedimentation rate related to climate change. Paleosols in stream valleys of the southern Appalachian Mountains appear to have formed throughout much of the early to mid-Holocene but their preservation varies between different geomorphic settings and across this physiographic province.