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Geoarchaeology in Iowa


Iowa archaeologists find artifacts and features buried at varying depths beneath the ground surface. Whether working on flood plains and terraces in stream valleys, or on ridges and hills in the uplands, archaeologists must pay careful attention to the earth materials (sediments and soils) within which they find archaeological remains. The sediments themselves often hold important clues to the age, state of preservation, and prehistoric environments of the archaeological sites they contain. Research conducted at the interface of archaeology and the earth sciences is referred to as geoarchaeology.

 

Click here to explore the geoarchaeology of Iowa's stream valleys.

Click here to explore the geoarchaeology of Iowa's uplands.

Click here to learn about geoarcheological methods in Iowa.

Click here to read on-line articles from Iowa Geology: The Role of Geology in Shaping the Archaeological Record and Use of Geologic Materials by Prehistoric Cultures

 

"Geoarchaeology in Iowa" was written by Joe Alan Artz with technical assistance from Patti Streicher.


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