Survey for Submerged Archeological Sites on the Continental Shelf of SE Alaska: Proof of Concept

Summary

Four seasons (2010-14) of underwater archaeological survey (NSF OPP -#0703980 and 1108367) on the continental shelf of SE Alaska demonstrates that survey for evidence of human habitation when sea level was lower is feasible. Real time ROV monitoring and video, hydrologic excavation, airlift sampling, and graduated screening can be reliably employed for sea floor sampling following multibeam, side-scan sonar, and sub-bottom profile surveys. Limiting dates for submerged landscape features and archeological sites can be established based on their depth in relation to regional sea level curves in combination with 14C AMS dating. This research demonstrates proof of concept for survey and testing for sites on the continental shelf pre-dating post-Pleistocene sea level rise.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Geoarchaeology of Submerged, Intertidal, And Wetland Places: Advances In Method And Theory of Prehistoric Archaeology Underwater - 2015   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage