Refuse Deposits Research Articles

Filth, garbage, and rubbish: refuse disposal, sanitary reform, and nineteenth-century yard deposits in Washington, D. C.

To the archaeologist, the refuse deposits found on domestic sites are a source of information about diet, health, and consumer behavior. Yet to 19th-century health reformers, these deposits were regarded as sources of disease causing offensive odors, or “noxious effluvia.” Thus, city officials in Washington first instituted night soil collection (privy contents), then garbage collection (organic refuse), and finally by century’s end, rubbish collection (inorganic refuse). Concurrently, city officials passed ever stricter nuisance laws designed to enforce public health policy. How these reforms were enforced, and how the public reacted to them, may say much about the development of attitudes towards cleanliness. Excavations from domestic sites in Washington, D. C. show that refuse disposal practices differed substantially from house to house. The adoption of sanitary practices was far from even, and may have been associated with many factors, including cultural background, occupation, and home ownership, among others.

Archeological evidence of parasitic infection from the 19th century company town of Fayette, Michigan.

Archeological deposits from the 19th century company town of Fayette, Michigan were analyzed for evidence of endoparasitic infection in the human population residing in the town between 1867 and 1891. Three privies were associated with upper-income and middle-income neighborhoods; 2 household refuse disposal areas were found in a predominately lower-income immigrant working class neighborhood. Sediment samples from 2 privies associated with dwellings in the middle-income neighborhood were positive for eggs of the human whipworm Trichuris trichiura. The parasite was probably also present among residents of the lower income neighborhood, but the shallow nature of the refuse deposits in that locality precluded preservation of the eggs. Contemporary epidemiologic studies of helminth infections support the belief that T. trichiura may have been a common parasite of 19th century school-age children given the natural inclination of young children to defecate indiscriminately, play freely in the dirt, and eat without washing their hands.

HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS IN THE COAL MINING DISTRICT OF INDIANA AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RECLAMATION OF ABANDONED MINE LANDS

Bedrock strata of the mining district of Indiana (Indiana Coal Mining District, ICMD) include numerous coalbeds of economic importance, together with underclays, roof shales, limestones, and sandstones of Pennsylvanian age. These are typically poor aquifers with low hydraulic conductivities and specific yields. Surficial materials include loess, till, alluvium, and other deposits of pleistocene age. The loess and till also have low hydraulic conductivities, so that very few shallow aquifers exist in the vicinities of abandoned mine land (AML) sites, except where they are close to the alluvial fill of large bedrock valleys. The hydrologic cascade at AML sites in Indiana is strongly conditioned by the existence of elevated deposits of coarse-grained coal-preparation refuse and flooded underground mine workings. Flooded mines are the principal conduits of groundwater flow in the area, but their boundaries, flowpaths, and mechanisms of recharge and discharge are very different from those of natural aquifers and are poorly understood. Acidic mine drainage often emerges as seepages and springs on the edges of the elevated refuse deposits, but the low permeability of the natural surficial materials and bedrock inhibits the development of off-site groundwater contaminant plumes. The water balance across the surface of the refuse deposits is criticalmore » to reclamation planning and success. Enhancing runoff through reduction of infiltration capacity has the beneficial effect of reducing recharge through the acid-generating refuse, but the excess runoff may be accompanied by soil erosion that can lead to reclamation failure. Furthermore, during cool seasons and stormy periods, a well vegetated surface promotes recharge through increased infiltration, resulting in greater rates of acidic baseflow seepage. Passive Anoxic Limestone Drains (PALDs) have been successfully coupled with wetland treatment systems to improve surface waters that discharge from AML sites. Storm runoff from reclaimed refuse deposits is often alkaline, and techniques could be devised to utilize this alkalinity in the on-site treatment of both groundwater and surface water. In some instances, the flooded underground mines also contain alkalinity that could be used to treat acidic baseflow, but to date, no efforts have been made in Indiana to explore the possibility of beneficially incorporating underground mines in reclamation planning.« less

Aspects of the morphology and ecology of two Panamanian ant-plants,Hoffmannia vesciculifera(Rubiaceae) andBesleria formicaria(Gesneriaceae)

ABSTRACTTwo formicarial ant-plants endemic to Panama and adjacent areas of Costa Rica co-occur in mid-elevation cloud forest yet have distinctive modifications to house and feed small, retiring ants.Besleria formicaria(Gesneriaceae) hosts onlyPheidolesp. which harvest the oil-rich seeds of its host and other plants and insect parts.Hoffmannia vesciculifera(Rubiaceae) hosts onlySolenopsissp. ants which obtain lipid and possibly other nutrients from vescicular tissues. Judging by their abundance in refuse deposits, fern sporangia appear to be a plentiful and evenly distributed resource exploited by both ant species.

Beyond the identification of formation processes: Behavioral inference based on traces left by cultural formation processes

Formation processes are generally considered as a negative factor for behavioral inference in archaeology. The concept of formation processes, however, can potentially be far more useful for behavioral inference in archaeology than simply identifying spurious variability in the archaeological record. Physical traces left by cultural formation processes convey a certain kind of behavioral information which may not be otherwise available. Variables related to site occupation, such as the occupation span, the number of occupation episodes, and the location of activities, can be inferred from characteristics of refuse deposits, or “refuse structure.”

Seasonal and Storm‐Related Aspects of Sediment Yield From a Rapidly Eroding Coal Refuse Deposit in Southwestern Indiana

A 500‐m2 watershed on a deposit of coal refuse was instrumented for measurements of runoff and sediment yield and monitored for 15 months. The range of 42 storm period sediment yields was greater for the watershed as a whole (16 to 3,480 g m−2) than for a 4.65‐m2 portion of interfluve surface (15 to 1,596 g m−2). The ratio of sediment yield values (watershed:interfluve) was not constant. Ratios of about 7:1 occurred in late spring, when gully floors were flushed of colluvium that had accumulated during winter. The ratio remained above 2:1 in summer, when intense runoff caused gully incision. Estimates of annual sediment yield from three reaches of gully (82 to 160 kg m−2 yr−1) are about an order of magnitude greater than an estimate for interfluves (12 kg m−2 yr−1). A correlation analysis indicated that 78% of the observed variance in watershed sediment yield values is associated with characteristics of storm rainfall and runoff.

Application of electromagnetic techniques in survey of contaminated groundwater at an abandoned mine complex in southwestern Indiana, U.S.A.

In part of a large abandoned mining complex, electromagnetic geophysical surveys were used along with data derived from cores and monitoring wells to infer sources of contamination and subsurface hydrologic connections between acidic refuse deposits and adjacent undisturbed geologic materials. Electrical resistivity increases sharply along the boundary of an elevated deposit of pyritic coarse refuse, which is highly contaminated and electrically conductive, indicating poor subsurface hydrologic connections with surrounding deposits of fine refuse and undisturbed glacial material. Groundwater chemistry, as reflected in values of specific conductance, also differs markedly across the deposit's boundary, indicating that a widespread contaminant plume has not developed around the coarse refuse in more than 40 yr since the deposit was created. Most acidic drainage from the coarse refuse is by surface runoff and is concentrated around stream channels. Although most of the contaminated groundwater within the study area is concentrated within the surficial refuse deposits, transects of apparent resistivity and phase angle indicate the existence of an anomalous conductive layer at depth (>4 m) in thick alluvial sediments along the northern boundary of the mining complex. Based on knowledge of local geology, the anomaly is interpreted to represent a subsurface connection between the alluvium and a flooded abandoned underground mine.

Slave Diet at Monticello

The results of a detailed analysis of the faunal remains from the slave dwelling known as Building “o” at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s well-known Virginia plantation, do not conform with the expected slave quarter faunal pattern in that more complete carcasses and higher quality cuts of meat are represented. The bone assemblage contrasts with the lower quality meats found in the Storehouse at Monticello, which also is thought to have been occupied by slaves. This raises the issue of differences in meat diet within the slave community at Monticello, and it is suggested that either higher status or a complex taphonomic history involving the deposition of mixed plantation refuse may explain the patterning that is present.

Landfill gas

In most landfills, the refuse deposit usually has a high content of organic matter consisting of a mixture of household, industrial and garden waste. Immediately after the refuse has been placed in the landfill, aerobic decomposition of the organic waste begins. Once the oxygen has been exhausted, anaerobic decomposition begins. “Biogas” is produced which has a methane content of approximately 50% and can be used as a fuel. The exploitation of landfill gas for energy purposes was initiated in the U.S.A. around 1975 and later in Europe. A landfill gas plant consists of a recovery system and a production system. A recovery system can consist of vertical perforated pipe wells, horizontal perforated pipes or ditches, or membrane covers to collect the generated gas. Under normal conditions it will not be necessary to process the gas except for the removal of water and other impurities (e.g., solid particles) if the gas is to be used in a boiler or engine. In the U.S.A., most often only power is produced, whereas in Europe the waste heat is normally exploited, making the plant function as a combined power and heating plant. It is also possible to upgrade the landfill gas to a methane content of nearly 100%, after which it can be distributed with natural gas. There are several such plants in the U.S.A.

Yucatec Influence in Terminal Classic Northern Belize

Excavations undertaken during 1978 and 1979 at Nohmul, Belize are believed to cast new light on the demise of the Maya. Investigations revealed Terminal Classic-San Jose V material intermixed with Late Classic to Early Postclassic Yucatec material in a single-unit refuse deposit. More importantly, striking architectural similarities exist between structures at Nohmul and Chichen-Itza; Structure 20 at Nohmul proved to be of the “patio-quad” type known previously only from Chichen-Itza, and Structure 9 of Nohmul may be put forth as a “Caracol” (Chichen-Itza Structure 3C15) counterpart. On the basis of excavations at Nohmul, it is implied that there is an association between Toltec Chichen-Itza (Sotuta) and the Terminal Classic periods to the south (San Jose V-Tepeu 3), in that the two are overlapping, if not coeval. Should this be the case, new alternatives relating to the Maya collapse must be considered.

Landfill Gas, What It Does to Trees, and How Its Injurious Effects May Be Prevented

The conversion of former refuse landfills into post closure uses generally involves the planting of trees for aesthetic and occasionally commercial purposes. The authors have noted that it is frequently difficult to obtain satisfactory tree growth when the gases of anaerobic decomposition of the organic matter contained in the refuse are present. The lack of oxygen and the presence of excessive quantities of carbon dioxide in the soil root zone appear to be the cause of much tree injury and death when the trees are grown above or adjacent to former refuse fills. Thin, low-nuthent-content cover soils, lack of adequate soil moisture, excessive compaction, and surface settlement have also been identified as problems found associated with former refuse deposit areas. Methods are suggested for preventing the entry of landfill gases into the root zones of the trees and in accommodating other tree growth problems found associated with former refuse dumping areas. These include gas venting and blocking, irrigation, planting adaptable species, using small sized specimens in preference to large, and providing adequate maintenance.

The Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Sanitary Landfill: State‐of‐the‐Art in Ground‐Water Protectiona

ABSTRACTA 120‐acre sanitary landfill site is being developed in north‐central Pennsylvania to serve a six‐county area. The design of the site will prevent ground‐water contamination by leachate from the refuse through the use of a 20‐mil (.5 mm) PVC plastic liner which will lie between two protective layers of sand containing drainpipe networks.Sampling of the composite ground‐water flow from the underdrainpipe network in the sand blanket under the liner will provide sensitive monitoring of the liner performance. In the unlikely event of a leak, the pipe draining that area would be diverted to the leachate treatment facility, thus providing a backup leachate collection system. A thick (15 to 75 feet, 4.6 to 22.9 metres) glacial till deposit is present at the site and confines ground‐water flow within the underlying shale bedrock. The low permeability of the till and the artesian head within the bedrock flow system provide additional protection against ground‐water contamination.Operation of the site will be by the area‐fill method; the refuse will be deposited in 8‐foot (2.4‐metre) lifts up to a maximum height of 120 feet (36.6 metres). Based on an initial refuse deposit rate of 400 tons (363 metric tons) per day, the site is expected to have a 20‐year life at a disposal cost of approximately $5.00 per ton.Local residents who felt this project posed a severe threat to their wells strenuously opposed the project and appealed the State permit. The Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board upheld the permit; the decision was appealed to Commonwealth Court and was upheld. Residents remain unconvinced the design and site conditions will provide adequate protection and have petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to consider another appeal.A baseline water‐quality monitoring program has been undertaken to establish on‐site conditions and a private‐well sampling program will begin before the landfill is in operation. Till and bedrock monitoring wells at the site will be used to evaluate the performance of this landfill; analysis of the nearby private wells will be provided to the owners to demonstrate confidence in the design and the satisfactory operation of the ground‐water protection measures.

Fundamentals to develop a programme for the optimum design of regional refuse deposits

One major aspect of environmental protection is the disposal of refuse. Together with other disciplines applied geology is confronted with the request to find optimum locations for new regional refuse deposits.

Ringkloster, en jysk indlandsboplads med Ertebøllekultur

Ringkloster, en jysk indlandsboplads med Ertebøllekultur

A Seasonal Campsite in the Peruvian Montana: Ethnography and Ecology in Archaeological Interpretation

AbstractThe rapid decomposition of organic remains under tropical forest conditions forces the archaeologist to rely entirely upon soil characteristics, indestructible artifacts, and refuse deposition patterns for his cultural interpretations. Such evidence is used to identify a unifunctional turtle harvesting encampment on the lower Aguatia River in eastern Peru.

Ectosynibiosis Between Phorid Flies1 and Army Ants23

Minute phorid flies are the most abundant myrmecophilous insects living in colonies of army ants and their refuse deposits. More than 300 colonies of army ants (Dorylinae: Ecitonini) were sampled, and 3900 female and 469 male phorids were collected. The phorids were active constantly but were most commonly seen from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. They were abundant in refuse deposits and at the ends of emigration and raid columns after most or all of the ants had passed. The number of phorids with 1 colony varied greatly and sometimes exceeded 4000. Most species considered to be myrmecophiles were found with more than 1 ant species. The phorids are scavengers that feed on booty refuse and dead workers discarded by army ants, but may feed also on booty and live brood within bivouacs. Eggs laid near the beginning of a statary phase of the ants can develop into adults before the colony emigrates. Flightless females also emerged before the large-winged males, an adaptation that would increase cross mating by keeping females in the colony and forcing some males to fly to other bivouacs.

The Immediate History of Zia Pueblo as Derived from Excavation in Refuse Deposits

AbstractExcavations to investigate stratigraphy at Zia Pueblo indicate that the mesa now occupied by the tribe was first settled by their ancestors during the fourteenth century, when a neighboring site also was established by others of the same people. Except for a short period in the late seventeenth century when the group moved to a refugee site, occupation was continuous. In the east dump, sterile soil was encountered on the bottom of level 36 (each level of 25 cm. thickness); above this, five sloping zones with sherd complexes differing in proportions, if not always in types, could be traced.

A Note on Pre-Columbian Structures in Mani, Yucatan, Mexico

AbstractA 1962 survey of Mani revealed the existence of the pre-Columbian mounds last reported by John Lloyd Stephens in 1843. There is good reason to believe that the refuse deposits associated with these structures can provide the ceramic information essential for a better understanding of the time period after the fall of Mayapan and the ascendency of the Xius.

Two New Species of Euryomma (Stein) (Muscidae: Diptera) from Panama

In studies of army ants on Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone, Panama, C. W. Rettenmeyer collected two new species of Euryomma in association with colonies of Eciton burchelli (Westw.). Adults of both species were collected flying above refuse heaps of the ants, a good series of one was reared, and all stages of the larvae of both were taken in berlese samples of the refuse deposits. Descriptions of all stages of both species, except for the egg and puparium of the rarer species, are presented here. No immature stages of Euryomma spp. have been known previously, nor are there any published data on the life-history and habits of any species of the genus.

Preliminary Report on the Excavation of an Etowah Valley Site

The Wilbanks site, 9CK-5, is located in the Etowah Valley, north Georgia, about fifteen miles upstream from the famous Etowah site excavated by Moorehead (1932). Excavations here have produced one structure and three superimposed refuse deposits yielding a ceramic sequence contemporaneous with middle through late Mississippi.Robert Wauchope (1948, p. 205) tested the site for the University of Georgia some years ago with a single trench into a mound, its main feature. A brief note on the results of this excavation was published as part of a more comprehensive paper.