Human-Environmental Dynamics of the Georgia Coast

Summary

This paper synthesizes and evaluates settlement and subsistence patterns in relation to landscape change for the entire prehistoric period on the Georgia coast. The dynamic coastal processes of the region have altered the topography and distribution of resources, including those important to humans. These processes were neither uniform in space nor time, with variations leading to the creation of micro-habitats. We assess these habitats individually and as part of a complex whole, to better elucidate the nature of human-environmental interactions. Understanding these complex relationships aids in our understanding of the social trajectories of the coastal groups, and people's environmental impact and legacies on the ecosystem. In addition to our synthesis, we include new research such as locational data and a comprehensive radiocarbon date database. We also use our research as a departure point to discuss the future of humans along changing coastlines. We argue that past peoples dealt with similar coastally-related issues as today, such as sea level fluctuations or changes to once productive resources. We need to convey our knowledge on these human-environmental interactions to the public, including policy-makers, not just to exhibit the usefulness of archaeology, but also to transform society for the better.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Human-Environmental Dynamics on the Atlantic Coast of North America

Keywords

Spatial Coverage