Abstract:

During the past several decades soil morphologic studies were conducted on a number of Clovis sites in the Southeast. These have included the following: Thunderbird and Williamson in Virginia; Pine Tree, Nipper, and Topper in South Carolina, and the Baucom site in North Carolina. Soil morphology, with the accompanying laboratory analysis, has provided a key to understanding the complex stratigraphy of Clovis sites in the Southeast. Morphological studies at archaeological sites have provided estimates on the rate of formation of diagnostic horizons of the region. Minimal argillic horizons, for example may form in 3-4,000 years, but well developed ones are usually associated with 10,000 years of weathering (Thunderbird site). The use of soil micromorphology has greatly facilitated the evaluation of weathering stages in soils. The parent material, of course, can greatly effect the soil weathering cycle. At the Topper site, for example, 10,000 years of weathering of sandy, quartz-dominated sediment results in minimal development of subsoils.