Sedimentary Sequence Research Articles

Use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) for coastal aquifer characterization in Garopaba/SC

The work analyzes the sedimentary deposits of the coastal aquifer of the locality of Limpa, Garopaba (SC), through geophysics and well data. A ground penetrating radar section (GPR) was acquired in an area adjacent to 4 wells located in the south of the municipality, provided by the water and sanitation company (CASAN). Three lithostratigraphic units were identified, with a basal layer composed of clayey material, an intermediate layer predominantly composed of sand representing the aquifer unit, and a superficial layer composed of fine sediments, peat and sand. The GPR section presents a paleochannel feature within the aquifer unit, showing the lateral variation of facies and depositional architecture within a lithological unit. The interpretation of key surfaces, textures and reflector termination patterns led to the diagnosis that the intercepted sedimentary deposits represent two depositional sequences, probably of Pleistocene age, composed by the record of lagoon-barrier and fluvio-estuarine systems. The lateral and vertical variation of sedimentary deposits has a significant influence on the hydrodynamic behavior of aquifers, so that the detailed scale characterization of the coastal aquifer can help the management of water resources, especially in areas extremely vulnerable to contamination and with high water demands, as is the case of Garopaba.

Persistent functional and taxonomic groups dominate an 8,000-year sedimentary sequence from Lake Cadagno, Switzerland

Most of our knowledge of deep sedimentary life comes from marine environments; however, despite their relatively small volume, lacustrine sediments constitute one of the largest global carbon sinks and their deep sediments are largely unexplored. Here, we reconstruct the microbial functional and taxonomic composition of an 8,000-year Holocene sedimentary succession from meromictic Lake Cadagno (Switzerland) using shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. While younger sediments (<1,000 years) are dominated by typical anaerobic surface sedimentary bacterial taxa (Deltaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Firmicutes), older layers with lower organic matter concentrations and reduced terminal electron acceptor availability are dominated by taxa previously identified as “persistent populations” within deep anoxic marine sediments (Candidatus Bathyarchaeia, Chloroflexi, and Atribacteria). Despite these dramatic changes in taxonomic community composition and sediment geochemistry throughout the sediment core, higher-order functional categories and metabolic marker gene abundances remain relatively consistent and indicate a microbial community capable of carbon fixation, fermentation, dissimilatory sulfate reduction and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium. As the conservation of these metabolic pathways through changes in microbial community compositions helps preserve the metabolic pathway connectivity required for nutrient cycling, we hypothesize that the persistence of these functional groups helps enable the Lake Cadagno sedimentary communities persist amidst changing environmental conditions.

Depositional sequence and detrital zircon age spectra from Ediacaran to Early Cambrian at the northwestern Yangtze craton: Implication for the basin dynamics

Depositional sequence and detrital zircon age spectra from Ediacaran to Early Cambrian at the northwestern Yangtze craton: Implication for the basin dynamics

Seasonal Sea Surface Temperature Variations at the Northern Limit of the Kuroshio Current in Marine Isotope Stage 20–18

AbstractThis study presents a high time‐resolution alkenone unsaturation ratios (UK'37) in the Chiba composite section, a marine sedimentary sequence formed in the Kazusa forearc basin in the northwestern Pacific under the influence of the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents. The UK'37 reflects summer sea surface temperature (SST) and records glacial‐interglacial to sub‐millennial‐scale variations spanning the marine isotope stage (MIS) 19, an analog of our Holocene interglacial. At the glacial‐interglacial scale, summer UK'37‐SST and previously published winter SST fluctuations are in tandem with East Asian Summer and Winter monsoon variabilities, respectively. Millennial‐scale UK'37‐SST variations correspond to meltwater events in the North Atlantic. Summer temperature amplitudes maybe half those in winter, suggesting the stable dominance of the Kuroshio Current during the summer and significant winter cooling caused by the Oyashio Current intrusion. Our study reveals the unique seasonally different atmosphere‐ocean coupling system during MIS 19 at the subarctic front in the northwestern Pacific.

Comprehensive sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic ‎characterization of the exposed Boka Bil Formation, Surma ‎Basin, Northeastern Bangladesh

The Surma Basin, situated in northeastern Bangladesh along the northeastern margin of the ‎Indian subcontinent, is a region characterized by tectonic activity. This study investigates the ‎Miocene siliciclastic sedimentary succession exposed at the Hari River section in Lalakhal, ‎Jaintiapur, to explore its depositional environments and sequence stratigraphic architecture. ‎Field observations and sedimentological analysis reveal two primary facies associations within ‎the Boka Bil Formation: FA1 (tide-dominated environments) and FA2 (shelf environments). ‎FA1 includes three facies: Facies A (tidal channel deposits), Facies B (alternating sandstone and ‎mudstone representing overbank deposits), and Facies C (distal overbank deposits), which ‎together depict a lateral transition from tidal channel margins to spillover deposits. FA2 consists ‎of Facies SL1 (inner shelf deposits) and Facies SL2 (outer shelf deposits), representing deeper ‎marine environments. The Boka Bil Formation displays a retrogradational stacking pattern, with ‎a fining-upward sequence that transitions from shallow to deeper marine conditions. This ‎pattern is indicative of a transgressive systems tract, driven by rising sea levels. The deepening-‎upward facies succession highlights the dynamic interplay between tectonic forces and sea-level ‎changes in an active margin setting. These findings enhance our understanding of sedimentary ‎processes, paleoenvironmental evolution, and regional stratigraphy, providing valuable insights ‎for resource exploration in tectonically influenced basins‎.

Fluid Evolution and Cu-Co Ore-Forming Processes in the Katanga Copperbelt (DR Congo)—Insights from Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Analyses of Fluid Inclusions

Abstract This study focuses on the mineralization and fluid evolution of deposits in the Katanga Copperbelt, DR Congo, where two main hypogene mineralization stages have been proposed. Each of these events presents distinct signatures of fluid salinity and temperature: the first occurred during diagenesis, with a low salinity of 1.2 to 20.9 wt % NaCl equiv and a low temperature of 80° to 252°C; the second took place during maximum burial and orogenesis of the sedimentary strata, with a higher salinity of 32.3 to 59.6 wt % NaCl (+ KCl) equiv and higher temperature of 209° to 359°C. These later high-temperature, high-salinity fluids pervasively affected the first stage of nodules and lenses hosting ore minerals, which is confirmed by the extensive recrystallization features of carbonates in mineralized nodules and veins, reflecting multiple growth phases. Elemental composition assessed through laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses in fluid inclusions provides evidence for fluids enriched in K, Ba, Cu, Co, Pb, and Zn. Albitization of K-feldspar during water-rock interactions most likely caused the strong enrichment in potassium and barium. The high metal concentrations measured in the fluid inclusions are interpreted to result from the intense leaching of metals from the basement rocks and the overlying siliciclastic sedimentary sequence by descending Cl-enriched brines.

Enhanced Coercivity and Tb Distribution Optimization of Sintered Nd-Fe-B Magnets by TbF3 Grain Boundary Diffusion Facilitated by Ga

The grain boundary diffusion process employing a mixed diffusion source, comprising heavy rare-earth elements and low-melting metals, significantly enhances the coercivity (Hcj) of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets. In the present study, Tb and Ga were deposited onto the surface of Nd-Fe-B magnets to serve as a diffusion source for improving hard magnetic properties. The effects of varying deposition sequences of Tb and Ga on the magnetic properties and microstructure of the magnets were analyzed. The findings demonstrate that TbF3 grain boundary diffusion facilitated by Ga effectively increases the efficiency of Tb substitution, leading to enhanced coercivity. When Tb and Ga are deposited simultaneously, coercivity shows a notable improvement of 53.15% compared to the untreated magnet, with no reduction in remanence. Additionally, thermal stability is enhanced, resulting in superior overall magnetic properties. Microstructural analysis reveals that Ga promotes the diffusion of Tb into the magnet. In the magnet where Tb and Ga are co-deposited, the formation of a thinner and more uniform (Nd,Tb)2Fe14B shell–core structure, along with the greater infiltration depth of Tb, leads to a broader distribution of core–shell structures within the magnet. This effectively increases the anisotropy fields (HA) of the main phase grains, preventing the nucleation of antiferromagnetic domains at the edges of main-phase grains, thereby enhancing coercivity. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance of the magnet subjected to mixed diffusion is improved. This study provides a foundation for producing highly efficient magnets with a lower content of heavy rare-earth elements. The simplicity and flexibility of the process make it highly suitable for industrial applications.

Geographic Information System and Multivariate Analysis Approach for Mapping Soil Contamination and Environmental Risk Assessment in Arid Regions

Heavy metal contamination in soil is a global issue threatening human health and ecosystems. Accurate spatial maps of heavy metals (HMs) are vital to mitigating the adverse effects on the ecosystem. This study utilizes GIS and multivariate analysis to evaluate HMs in agricultural soils from Al Ghat Governorate, Saudi Arabia, analyzing Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn using ICP-AES in 35 soil samples. Methods included contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), risk index (RI), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), soil quality guidelines (SQGs), and multivariate analysis. The soils, characterized by sandy texture, low organic matter, and alkalinity due to arid conditions and high calcium carbonate, had the following HM concentrations (mg/kg) in descending order: Fe (11,480) ˃ Al (7786) ˃ Mn (278) ˃ Zn (72.37) ˃ Ni (28.66) ˃ V (21.80) ˃ Cr (19.89) ˃ Co (19.00) ˃ Cu (12.46) ˃ Pb (5.46) ˃ As (2.69). EF, CF, and Igeo suggest natural sources for most HMs, predominantly from the sedimentary sequence, with localized Zn, Pb, Co, Mn, and Cu enrichment linked to mixed natural and agricultural influences. PLI and RI indicated acceptable contamination levels, posing no ecological risk. All samples fell below SQG thresholds for As, Cu, Pb, and Cr, confirming minimal ecological threat. Statistical analysis highlighted sedimentary cover as the primary HM source, with agricultural activities contributing to Co, Cu, Ni, and Pb levels.

Electronic Impact of High-Energy Metal Deposition on Ultrathin Oxide Semiconductors.

High-energy metal deposition significantly impacts the performance and reliability of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors and nanodevices. This study investigates the localized annealing effect in atomically thin In2O3 induced during high-energy metal deposition. The localized heating effect alters the electronic performance of In2O3 devices, especially in shorter channel devices, where heat dissipation is further constrained. This effect creates a conductivity gradient along the In2O3 device with higher conductivity near the metal contact, as observed by conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). This gradient leads to a pronounced threshold voltage (Vth) shift as the channel length (Lch) decreases, resembling a short-channel effect but one driven by thermal mechanisms rather than conventional mechanisms. Furthermore, metals with higher latent heats can exacerbate these effects. We also show that reversing the deposition sequence and postdeposition oxygen annealing effectively suppress Vth shifts across different Lch. This work offers key insights into controlling thermal effects during fabrication to improve ultrathin oxide transistor performance.

Holocene multi-proxy environmental reconstruction of a tundra lake: A case study from Reindeer Lake, Western Spitzbergen

Multi-proxy analyses of two twin sediment cores from the Reindeer Lake were performed to reconstruct the Holocene environmental conditions in this eastern branch of the Bellsund region (Western Spitsbergen). A continuous Holocene lacustrine sediment sequence record was documented, with the dominance of a single algal species, Pediastrum orientale. The basal sediment was AMS 14C-dated between 8.4 and 8.2 ka cal BP. The results of our study, indicate: (1) a very slow sedimentation process during the period of the lake’s functioning, (2) low supply of nutrients from the catchment throughout the period from Mid-Holocene to the present, (3) the process of constant physiological adaptation of Pediastrum orientale algae to changing environmental conditions. The inferred climatic history at the Reindeer Lake is compatible with other evidence from Svalbard and elsewhere in the Arctic.

Facies distribution, sequence stratigraphy, and reservoir quality of the Oligo-Miocene carbonate sequences (Asmari formation) in the Dezful embayment, SW Iran

The Asmari succession is among the greatest productive hydrocarbon-bearing rock units in the Middle East. This paper examines the biostratigraphy, sedimentary environment, and depositional sequence of the Asmari reservoir in the Haft-Kel Field. This succession in the Haft-Kel Field contains limestones, dolostones, anhydrites, and argillaceous limestones and is bounded between the Pabdeh and Gachsaran formations. Paleontological research has led to the creation of three assemblage zones in this region. These zones present an age range from the late Oligocene (Chattian) to the early Miocene (Aquitanian). Also, detailed petrographic examinations and facies analysis led to the recognition of 14 types of microfacies, ranging from open marine environments to intertidal and supratidal systems. The distribution and association of recognized microfacies proposed carbonate ramp-type platform deposition for the Asmari Formation. In addition, three third-order depositional sequences (sequences 1, 2, and 3) have been recognized through the Asmari Formation in the Haft-Kel Oil field that is well correlated with sequences IV, V, and VI proposed by van Buchem et al. (2010), respectively. Using the Hydraulic Flow Unit (HFU) concept, six rock types have been identified for the Asmari reservoir. Finally, three reservoir zones, comprising none, moderate, and good reservoir zones, were introduced for the Asmari reservoir in Haft-Kel Field. No reservoir zones are visited in the lower part of the formation in depositional sequence 1 and to some extent in the Low Stand Systems Tract (LST) part of depositional sequence 2 and 3, while moderate to good reservoir zones are developed in the upper intervals of the formation, especially in the High Stand Systems Tract (HST) parts of depositional sequence 2 and 3.

Assessments of the earliest bats from the Quaternary of Serra da Mesa (Goiás, Brazil): phylogenetic insights and biogeographic modelling on the new extinct species of Rhinophylla, the first fossil record of the subfamily Rhinophyllinae (Chiroptera, Mammalia)

ABSTRACT Recovered from Quaternary deposits in Carneiro Cave (Serra da Mesa, Brazil), associated with a clayey-sandy sedimentary influx older than the overlying calcite layer, which has been dated to 182.8 ± 1.2 ka, a new extinct species of Rhinophylla is described based on a proximal radio fragment. This discovery represents one of the three oldest occurrences of Chiroptera in the exposed stratigraphic profile. The fossil record of Chiroptera consists of 1,117 bone fragments, distributed across Pleistocene and Holocene sedimentary packages. The chronology of this sedimentary sequence is established using dated layers, all of which are fully consistent with their order of deposition. A comparative study of the radioulnar morphology was conducted to determine the taxonomic identity of the new fossil bat. A strict consensus tree for phyllostomids was obtained, surprisingly consistent with recent molecular phylogenies, unequivocally places the new fossil in the subfamily Rhinophyllinae. Biogeographic modelling of Rhinophylla, typically characterised by an ecomorphology of small specialised epiphytic frugivores, suggests that around 200 ka (the fossil’s age reference) the genus may have had a broader distribution across Central Brazil than is observed today. This is consistent with the fact that Rhinophylla is currently absent in the surrounding region of the Carneiro Cave.

A Novel Protocol for Reconstructing Depositional Histories of Anthropogenic, Sedimentary Records: the Case of the Holocene-Deep Kirkhellaren Cave Deposits in Coastal Arctic Norway

ABSTRACT This paper presents a novel protocol for reconstructing formation processes of archaeological depositional sequences, applied to Holocene-wide cave deposits located on a remote coastal island in Arctic Norway as a case study. Extensive GPR surveying is correlated with geochemical analysis and in situ environmental deposit monitoring for sedimentary fingerprinting and forecasting of future preservation of organic remains. Subsurface deposit characteristics are integrated with a high-precision, laser-based 3D-reconstruction of the cave, enabling triangulation with historic photos and local informant knowledge that facilitate modeling and quantification of erosional history. The results showcase detrimental depletion of critical organic heritage, accelerated by the removal of protective surface layers after the a.d. 1930s. Critically, subsurface deposits are trending towards overshooting a threshold for accelerated in situ degradation. The results act as a direct validation of the methodology. Measures for future protection of similar archaeological deposits are discussed and an outline of the general applicability of the protocol.

Water Table Fluctuations Control Nitrate and Ammonium Fate in Coastal Aquifers

AbstractCoastal aquifers experience water table fluctuations that push and pull water and air through organic‐rich soils. This exchange affects the supply of oxygen, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and nitrogen (N) to shallow aquifers and influences groundwater quality. To investigate the fate of N species, we used a meter‐long column containing a sequence of natural organic topsoil and aquifer sediments. A fluctuating head was imposed at the column bottom with local, nitrate‐rich groundwater (16.5 mg/L NO3‐N). We monitored in‐situ redox potential and collected pore water samples for analysis of inorganic N species and DOC over 16 days. Reactive processes were more complex than anticipated. The organic‐rich topsoil remained anaerobic, while mineral sediments beneath alternated between aerobic, when the water table dropped and sucked air across preferential flow paths, and anaerobic conditions, when the water table was high. A fluid flow and reactive transport model shows that when the water table rises into organic‐rich soils, it limits the flow of oxygen, while the soils release DOC, which stimulates the removal of nitrate from groundwater by denitrification. At the end of the experiment, we introduced seawater to the column to mimic a storm surge. Seawater mobilized N and DOC from shallow soil horizons, which could reach the aquifer if the surge is long enough. These processes are relevant for groundwater quality in developed coastal areas with anthropogenic N sources, as climate change and rising seas will drive changes in water table and flood dynamics.

Palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic characterization of Upper Jurassic sedimentary sequences with dinosaur footprints of the M’Goun Geopark (High Atlas, Morocco).

Palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic characterization of Upper Jurassic sedimentary sequences with dinosaur footprints of the M’Goun Geopark (High Atlas, Morocco).

Deposition of single-phase monoclinic Cu2SnS3 thin films on Mo-coated substrates by dual-source fine-channel mist CVD

Abstract Single-phase monoclinic Cu2SnS3 (CTS) thin films on Mo-coated soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates were fabricated through dual-source fine-channel mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD) by optimizing the deposition sequence and annealing process. The conventional deposition process using mist CVD caused Mo dissolution, thereby hindering CTS deposition on the Mo-coated SLG substrate. Therefore, to prevent Mo dissolution, a two-step deposition process was employed—initially, a Cu–Sn–S thin film was deposited briefly, followed by drying before the second deposition. This approach enabled deposition of CTS thin films on the Mo-coated SLG substrates. In addition to the fabrication of single-phase monoclinic CTS thin films, we attempted in-situ annealing, annealing with flowing mist, and cover annealing, i.e., annealing while covering the deposited film with an SLG substrate in in an N2 atmosphere. After in-situ and cover annealing processes, the Raman spectra showed only single-phase monoclinic CTS.

Predicting the presence of tephra layers in lacustrine deposits using spectral gamma ray data: An example from Lake Chalco, Mexico City.

Spectral gamma ray borehole logging data can yield insights into the physical properties of lake sediments, serving as a valuable proxy for assessing climate and environmental changes. The presence of tephra layers resulting from volcanic ash deposition is not related to climate and environmental conditions. As a result, these layers pose challenges when attempting to analyze paleoclimate and environmental time series. Gamma rays are composed of photons, which are elementary particles of electromagnetic radiation. Tephra layers emit photons at specific energy levels that create a distinct pattern in their gamma-ray energy spectrum. The gamma-ray signature of tephra layers varies depending on the stage of the volcanic eruption. Additionally, there is a significant difference between the gamma-ray signature emitted by tephra layers and that of the background lake sediments. A composite signature can be used to predict tephra layers from background sediments by combining several gamma-ray signatures of tephra layers at different depths. We propose five-step protocol for detecting tephra layers within sediments through the utilization of gamma-ray spectroscopy. This protocol is based on a combination of physical aspects of gamma-ray spectroscopy and geological information specific to the lake system being studied. A subset of the training dataset is used, consisting of known tephra and non-tephra layers. The protocol involves identifying similarities between known tephra layers, analyzing differences in gamma-ray signals between tephra and non-tephra layers, and studying the composition of energy channels at various depths within the training dataset. Multiple linear regression models are used to predict the relationship between the composition of tephra layers as a dependent variable and the constituent energy channels of the gamma-ray signal as independent variables. The proposed protocol has the potential to accurately detect and identify thick tephra layers (> 10 cm in thickness) based on the rate of spectral gamma ray measurement in sedimentary sequences. This approach could enhance stratigraphic resolution by enabling finer subdivision of layers in an interior basin.

Subduction-collision and rapid uplift of the NW Yangtze Block during the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition: new evidence from the shoshonite series

ABSTRACT The NW Yangtze Block has long been regarded as a passive continental margin during Ediacaran and Cambrian. However, with the deepening of the regional geological survey and deep oil and gas exploration, the depositional sequence and palaeogeographic patterns of Ediacaran and Cambrian in the Sichuan basin are not consistent with the general sedimentary evolution process of passive margin more and more. To fully understand the tectonic property and palaeogeography of the NW Yangtze Block, a comprehensive study of the whole rock geochemistry, zircon U-Pb chronology and Hf isotopic composition analysis were carried out on the Weimen volcanic rocks, which mainly consist of trachyte, trachy-andesite, andesite, dacite, and rhyodacite in Maoxian area. They have high light rare earth element (LREE) and large ion lithophile element (LILE) concentrations, but are depleted in high field strength elements (HFSE). They are characterized by having high K2O+Na2O (5.60–9.48%), MgO (1.47–4.58%), Ce/Yb (11.67–25.79), and normalized hypersthene (Hy = 2.14–14.17), indicate an unambiguous feature of the shoshonite series. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating results show that the volcanic rocks have crystallization ages ranging from 528 Ma to 523 Ma, with positive zircon εHf (t) ranging from + 1.31 to + 5.26. In combination with previous studies, the early Cambrian shoshonite series in Maoxian area are interpreted to be formed in a continental collision setting. Therefore, the discovery of the shoshonite series suggests that the NW Yangtze Block has experienced an important process of continental subduction and collisional orogeny in response to the Gondwana assembly, and consequently provided a large amount of terrigenous sources to rapidly fill into the early Cambrian foreland basin.

A Deccan Large Igneous Province related Maastrichtian regolith of Lameta Formation, Central India: Insights into the genesis and development of calcrete profiles and implications for palaeoclimate variability

ABSTRACTEmplacement of volcanics of the Deccan Large Igneous Province in the late‐Maastrichtian to early‐Danian has been linked to global climatic perturbations and the related biotic crisis. Sedimentary sequences associated with these lavas, known as infra‐trappean and inter‐trappean successions, preserve records of this Large Igneous Province induced climatic and biotic changes. The Lameta Formation of Jabalpur is the type section for the infra‐trappean succession; it preserves a unique stack of 13 calcrete profiles and one calcic‐vertisol, which together constitute the Mottled Nodular Beds. This stratigraphic unit evolved over a significant time period, most likely a few hundred thousand years in Chron C29R, making it a unique section suitable for obtaining insights on terminal Cretaceous palaeoclimatic variability. Micromorphological, clay‐mineralogical, geochemical and stable carbon‐isotopic (organic matter) data of calcretes of the Mottled Nodular Beds have been used to understand their genesis and obtain insights on climatic variability during their formation. These calcretes/calcareous palaeosol profiles are largely characterized by alpha‐fabric with the development of some biogenic features indicating predominantly evaporation/evapotranspiration driven carbonate precipitation with minor biochemically induced precipitation, respectively. Strontium isotopic compositions of the carbonate fraction of these calcretes indicate derivation of calcium from the Precambrian Mahakoshal Group marbles. On the basis of multiple datasets, these calcretes are interpreted to be pedogenic having formed in the soil‐vadose zone following the per descensum model. Based on a multiproxy approach that includes micromorphology, clay‐mineralogy, geochemistry (Mean Annual Precipitation and salinization) and stable carbon isotope ratio (organic matter), the conditions of formation of the Mottled Nodular Beds in C29R are interpreted to have varied mostly from semi‐arid to sub‐humid, with two intervening shorter arid episodes in the middle and upper parts of this succession. This climatic variability broadly aligns with the recently suggested changes in eruptive dynamics in the neighbouring Malwa Plateau of the Deccan volcanic province.

Understanding Taphonomy Through 3D and 2D Records: A Case Study from the Tropical Maya Area

Mortuary archaeology in the Maya region is complicated by both cultural and natural factors. Distinctive funerary depositional and post-depositional secondary activities, in addition to tropical climate, contribute to the complexity of pre-Hispanic Maya funerary practices. This paper proposes to merge 2D and 3D recording data to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the taphonomic phenomena that affect heavily altered burials at the site of Palenque, Mexico. Employing an archaeothanatological approach, we argue that careful 3D imaging, integrated with earlier produced legacy data, provides additional insight into the formation processes of funerary contexts compared to previous methods. Digital photogrammetric analyses improve our capacity to reconstruct joint articulations of the body and its original funerary deposition in situ. The results of this research elucidate the intentional activities that led to the archaeological arrangement of the grave assemblage. By noticing the degree of articulation and clarifying the pace at which bodies decomposed, these results showcase the depositional sequence of one collective mixed burial from Group IV, a domestic compound in Palenque. These results suggest the viability of 3D methodologies in assessing post-depositional disturbances and movements of the body, both for illuminating funerary taphonomic practices and serving as important recording procedures for the future.