43781
Title Of Article Chaper
The third dimension in site structure: an experiment in trampling and vertical dispersal
Title Of Journal Book
American antiquity: a quarterly review of American archaeology
Volume
50
Issue
4
Pages
803-818
Collation
9 figs., 3 tables
Reference Bibliography
refs.
ISSN
0002-7316
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
Reports research in which two measured and weighed assemblages of lithic debitage were subjected to human treadage, one set on a compact sandy silt (loam) substrate, the other on unconsolidated sand. The assemblages were excavated, plotted in three dimensions, and documented for damage. Downward migration of pieces at the loam site was minimal; fracture of small pieces was the dominant damage pattern. Most sand site pieces migrated to 3-8 cm depth vertical distribution of pieces approximated a normal curve, and edge-damage to larger pieces was the dominant damage pattern. Vertical distribution of artifacts at the sand site approximated a pattern observed in two other trampling experiments and a number of archaeological occurrences. Factors influencing these distributions are discussed.
Keywords
site management;lithic;loam;sand;damage;visitors; archaeological sites; distribution
pub_id
43781