38070
Author
Dillehay, Tom D.
Editor
Purdy, Barbara A.
Title Of Article Chaper
Early rainforest archaeology in southwestern South America: research context, design, and data at Monte Verde
Title Of Journal Book
Wet site archaeology
Pages
177-206
Collation
1 table, 9 figs.
Reference Bibliography
bibliog.
Publisher
Telford Press
Publisher City
West Caldwell
ISBN
0-936923-07-5;0-936923-08-3 (pbk)
Language Of Text
English
Literature Type
Monograph : Proceedings
Literature Level
Analytic
Meeting
International Conference on Wet Site Archaeology (1986 : Gainesville, Fla. )
Meeting City
Gainesville
Abstract
Reports the history of the project, research methods and findings, and a reconstruction of the palaeoenvironment and landform. A radiocarbon chronology is included. The excavation grid and procedure are explained. The waterlogged wood was so soft that the primary means of excavation was to use fine-haired brushes, manual pumps, and fingers to avoid any marks that would affect interpretation. The top priority was to keep all artifacts and ecofacts saturated with water; local water supplies were inadequate, but natural rainfall (5 to 10 times a day) was utilized. The method of preparing these items for transport to the conservation laboratory is described; what could not be easily moved was reburied away from noncultural site with 20th-century indicators. Several different computer programs have been used to aid in the characterization of the assemblage and to examine spatial distribution. Reports from some of the analyses are provided. The propanol liquid paraffin treatment of wood samples caused cellular structure collapse; thus this wood cannot be identified. Experimental test was carried out successfully at site to encourage rapid formation of peat layer that would preserve organic remains.
Keywords
archaeology;Chile (Monte Verde);environment;wet sites; rain forests; paleoenvironment;reconstruction;radiocarbon dating; excavation;waterlogged wood; interpretation;artifacts;peat
pub_id
38070
Meeting Date
19860000