A GIS approach to stratigraphy in visually homogeneous rockshelter deposits: results from Woodpecker Cave.

Summary

The sediment stack at Woodpecker Cave (13JH202) does not possess an easily discernable stratigraphic sequence. Woodpecker Cave’s deposits are a combination of visually homogeneous colluvium derived from glacial loess mobilized from above the rockshelter and variably-sized tabular roof fall blocks. The lack of visible stratigraphy has necessitated the creation of a digital model from which to analyze the spatial provenience of a variety of mapped objects in order to differentiate between sections of the sediment stack that may have originated from different anthropogenic and geogenic inputs. Of principal interest to this study are the spatial positions, orientations, and densities of plotted finds, two-shot plotted finds, and mapped roof fall. This study suggests that while the matrix composition remains the same throughout the sequence at Woodpecker Cave, patterns of intrusive geogenic and anthropogenic materials change through time and space and are detectible in GIS.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage