The Geoarchaeology of Lake Michigan Coastal Dunes

by William A. Lovis, Alan F. Arbogast and G. William Monaghan

Published by: Michigan State University Press

Series: Environmental Research

Imprint: Michigan State University Press

Publishing Date: 2012-10-01

252 Pages, 8.50 x 11.00 in

Paperback
9781611860511
Published: October 2012

$35.95

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9781609173487
Published: October 2012

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Description
Contents
Authors
Praise

Complex sets of environmental factors have interacted over the past 5,000 years to affect how changes in climate, temperature, relative precipitation, and the levels of Lake Michigan influence the preservation of archaeological sites in coastal sand dunes along Lake Michigan. As a collaboration between earth scientists, archaeologists, and geoarchaeologists, this study draws on a wealth of research and multidisciplinary insights to explore the conditions necessary to safeguard ancient human settlements in these landscapes. A variety of contemporary and innovative techniques, including numerous dating methods and approaches, were employed to determine when and for how long sand dunes were active and when and for how long archaeological sites were occupied. Knowledge of dune processes and settlement patterns not only affects archaeological interpretations, but it is also consummately important to land planners responsible for managing heritage archaeological sites in the Lake Michigan coastal zone.

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction: The Geoarchaeology of Lake Michigan Coastal Dunes

2. The Archaeology of the Lake Michigan Coastal Zone: A Perspective from the Coastal Dunes

3. Coastal Dunes, Eolian Processes, and Activation-Stabilization Cycles

4. Middle and Late Holocene Lake-Level Variation, Isostatic Rebound, and Environmental Changes in the Upper Great Lakes

5. Archaeological Sites in Dune Contexts around Lake Michigan

6. Discussion and Synthesis of the Processes and Timing of Dune Formation and Archaeological Site Burial in Coastal Settings of Lake Michigan

7. The U.S. 31 Case Study: Torch Bay to South Point

Appendix A. Description of Methods Employed

Appendix B. Tables of Radiocarbon and OSL Dates

Appendix C. Descriptions of Sample Locales

References

Index

William A. Lovis is Professor and Curator of Anthropology at Michigan State University.

Alan F. Arbogast is Professor of Geography at Michigan State University.

G. William Monaghan is Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University.

Anyone wishing to understand the archaeology of the Great Lakes must come to terms with the complex interactions of land, water, and glacial ice that produced the modern lakes. This volume does an excellent job of putting these large scale geological processes into context and demonstrates their critical importance for the discovery and understanding prehistoric sites, both ancient and more recent. While the study focuses specifically on coastal dune processes in the Lake Michigan basin, the discussions will be of interest to everyone concerned with the cultural and geomorphological heritage of the Great Lakes.
—John M. O’Shea, Curator Great Lakes Museum of Anthropological Archaeology

The Geoarchaeology of Lake Michigan Coastal Dunes is a comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment of natural and cultural processes and their interactions by leading experts in their fields. This book is required reading for anyone wishing to understand the development and habitation of Michigan’s most recognized landform.
—Todd A. Thompson, Assistant Director for Research, Indiana Geological Survey at Indiana University

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