Geoarchaeology

Faculty: O. Don Hermes and Jon C. Boothroyd

Collaborative faculty: William A. Turnbaugh, Prof. of Anthropology. We also collaborate with archaeologists and glacial geologists from other academic institutions and the federal government, as well as with contract-archaeologists.

 The following two research areas are emphasized:

1.  Petrographic and geochemical characterization of archaeological artifacts, debitage, and quarry specimens to constrain sources, distribution patterns, trade routes, and other archaeological issues

Examples of artifacts used in our studies.

   Trace elements permit the sources of artifacts to be established.

2. Paleoclimate and resulting landscape development in late glacial and early post-glacial time using morphosequence mapping, sedimentologic interpretation of exposures, macrofossil analysis, and dating by radioisotopic methods. 

Relevant Publications