Explore how a submerged terrestrial site forms and survives on the continental shelf, and what that reveals about the past.
The book presents a detailed study of the Douglass Beach site (8SL17) and the natural processes that shape underwater archaeological remains. It lays out the fieldwork, core samples, and laboratory analyses used to understand deposition, disturbance, and preservation in marine sediments.
Using established methods for grain-size, point-count, and geochemical analysis, the work shows how site-formation processes are identified and interpreted. It also situates these findings within a broader model for recognizing inundated terrestrial sites on continental shelves, with implications for locating similar remains.
- Learn how sediment texture, microfossils, and geochemical signatures reveal deposition and disturbance over time.
- See how indicators like sea-urchin spines, tube-worm fragments, and bryozoans help track bioturbation and mixing of sediments.
- Discover how pollen and plant remains illuminate past vegetation and subsistence resources nearby.
- Understand how a formal model guides the interpretation of underwater site formation for management and discovery.
Ideal for readers with an interest in underwater archaeology, coastal geology, and heritage management, as well as professionals seeking practical approaches to site conservation and interpretation.