submerged prehistoric archaeology

Stefan Claesson, Ph.D.Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory

Preservation Potential of Submerged Prehistoric Archaeological Sites on the Maine Shelf

Joseph Kelley, Ph.D., & Daniel Belknap, Ph.D.Dept. of Earth SciencesUniversity of Maine, Orono

Stefan Claesson, Ph.D.Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory

Preservation Potential of Submerged Prehistoric Archaeological Sites on the Maine Shelf

Joseph Kelley, Ph.D., & Daniel Belknap, Ph.D.Dept. of Earth SciencesUniversity of Maine, Orono

“limited subaerial exposure of the present shelf in the Gulf of Maine…inhibited the development of coastal land forms that typically are high in archeological site potential” (Strite, 1990)

0 4 km0 4 km

Bass Harbor

Green Islands

GeorgesBank

NovaScotia

Maine

Sea Level in the Gulf of MaineSea Level in the Gulf of Maine

(Shaw et al., 2002)

Sea Level in the Gulf of MaineSea Level in the Gulf of Maine

(Shaw et al., 2002)

Sea Level in the Gulf of MaineSea Level in the Gulf of Maine

Lunt biface(Crock et al., 1993)

0 4 km

Ground stone adze and spear recovered by scallop draggers(Price & Spiess, 2007)

0 2 km

MorainalRidges

Basin

Opening

Opening

SE

NW

SENW

InnomarSES-2000

Benthos ROV

A B

A

BBH-03

•Freshwater Basin•12.5 - 10.5 ka•Peat fragments•Tundra

• Freshwater Basin• 12.5 - 10.5 ka• Peat fragments• Tundra

•Estuarine•10.5 - 8 ka•Tidal flat & barrier beach

•Woodland

• Freshwater Basin• 12.5 - 10.5 ka• Peat fragments• Tundra

• Estuarine• 10.5 - 8 ka• Tidal flat & barrier beach

• Woodland

•Marine•7,800 BP•Overwash fans & graded beds

-26

-25

11,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

-26

-25

-24

11,000

9,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

-26

-25

-24

-23

11,000

9,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

11,000

9,000

8,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

-21

11,000

9,000

8,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

-21

-20

11,000

9,000

8,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

7,000

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

-21

-20

-19

11,000

9,000

8,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

7,000

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

-21

-20

-19

-18

11,000

9,000

8,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

7,000

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

-21

-20

-19

-18

-17

11,000

9,000

8,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

7,000

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

-21

-20

-19

-18

-17

11,000

9,000

8,000

METERS(Below MLLW)

YEARS B.P.(Approx.)

7,000

Archaic Period SlowstandsArchaic Period Slowstands

Late

Early to Mid

Highly exposed locations are unlikely to contain undisturbed sites Highly exposed locations are unlikely to contain undisturbed sites or sedimentary depositsor sedimentary depositsHighly exposed locations are unlikely to contain undisturbed sites Highly exposed locations are unlikely to contain undisturbed sites or sedimentary depositsor sedimentary deposits

The slow rate of sea-level rise provided time to accumulate The slow rate of sea-level rise provided time to accumulate Coastal/estuarine in the Gulf of Maine, as well as the erosion of Coastal/estuarine in the Gulf of Maine, as well as the erosion of glacial landforms.glacial landforms.

Sedimentary deposits between15-25 m depth representing Sedimentary deposits between15-25 m depth representing formations between 7-11ka may be preserved because of the formations between 7-11ka may be preserved because of the slow rate of local sea-level riseslow rate of local sea-level rise

In Bass Harbor, human occupation occurred in a shoreline setting In Bass Harbor, human occupation occurred in a shoreline setting involving erosion of a moraine and formation of spits and involving erosion of a moraine and formation of spits and wetlands near a brackish-water basin between 9 ka and 8 ka.wetlands near a brackish-water basin between 9 ka and 8 ka.

NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and ResearchProject participants:

NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and ResearchProject participants:

Contacts:Stefan.Claesson@unh.eduStefan.Claesson@unh.edu

NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Researchhttp://explore.noaa.gov

Institute of Maritime Historyhttp://www.maritimehistory.org

NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Researchhttp://explore.noaa.gov

Institute of Maritime Historyhttp://www.maritimehistory.org

Arthur Spiess (MHPC)

Gerald Kelso (USDA)

Lisa Lavold-Foote (ASU)

Arthur Spiess (MHPC)

Gerald Kelso (USDA)

Lisa Lavold-Foote (ASU)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (UNH)Darling Marine CenterInnomar Technologie

SAIC

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (UNH)Darling Marine CenterInnomar Technologie

SAIC

Web Sites:

Alan Baker (UNH)

Lloyd Huff (UNH)

Larry Mayer (UNH)

Franklin Price (IMH)

Alan Baker (UNH)

Lloyd Huff (UNH)

Larry Mayer (UNH)

Franklin Price (IMH)