The Karl Site: New Insights on Archaeology in the Upper Allegheny Valley and Life During the Archaic Period

Summary

Most archaeological sites within the upper Allegheny Valley of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Southwestern New York have been heavily damaged by decades of plowing. The Karl Site, while no exception, has revealed that a precious few undisturbed features can exist beneath the ravages of the plow zone. Investigations at the site, involving geophysical survey, controlled surface survey, and limited excavations, have revealed some insights into the function of the site within the broader landscape. Although the majority of the site had been compromised, this study shows that data from such sites can still be useful, and such sites should not be overlooked in academic research. The work has also provided a practical methodology for investigation of heavily plow-damaged sites, that provides multiple lines of data collection, and provides a less-intrusive, less time-consuming alternative to plow-zone stripping. Such an approach can be favorable in sensitive areas, and where preservation is the desired outcome.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15014