Using soil survey data as a predictive tool for locating deeply buried archaeological deposits in stream valleys of the Midwest, United States

Abstract

AbstractIn stream valleys of the US Midwest, most of the existing record of prehistoric cultures is deeply buried. Therefore, there is a need for understanding the age and distribution of different landform sediment assemblages (LSAs) in these settings to adequately evaluate the landscape for buried archaeological materials. In this study, we show the applicability of US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service soil survey data to (a) provide information on the spatial distribution and characteristics of different LSAs and (b) determine the associated geologic potential for buried cultural deposits. We considered four factors in our assessment, including the age of sedimentary deposits, soil stratigraphy, depositional environment, and drainage conditions. These data were used to develop a GIS‐based predictive model that was verified with data from a large volume of geoarchaeological research conducted throughout the region. The spatial scale of soil survey data, the uncertain nature of soil mapping, and the ability to detect the presence or absence of buried soils were found to be important limitations. Nevertheless, our results show that soil survey data can be useful as each of the four factors is considered to discriminate particular LSAs and appropriately evaluate buried‐site potential. Our approach can be broadly applied to fluvial systems where cultural deposits are deeply buried, particularly in other countries where soil survey databases exist.