Evidence for New Madrid Earthquakes in A.D. 300 and 2350 B.C.

Abstract

Other| July 01, 2005 Evidence for New Madrid Earthquakes in A.D. 300 and 2350 B.C. Martitia P. Tuttle; Martitia P. Tuttle 1M. Tuttle & Associates Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eugene S. Schweig, III; Eugene S. Schweig, III 2U.S. Geological Survey and Center for Earthquake Research and Information Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Janice Campbell; Janice Campbell 3Prentice Thomas and Associates Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Prentice M. Thomas; Prentice M. Thomas 3Prentice Thomas and Associates Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John D. Sims; John D. Sims 4John Sims & Associates Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert H. Lafferty, III Robert H. Lafferty, III 5Mid-Continental Research Associates Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Martitia P. Tuttle 1M. Tuttle & Associates Eugene S. Schweig, III 2U.S. Geological Survey and Center for Earthquake Research and Information Janice Campbell 3Prentice Thomas and Associates Prentice M. Thomas 3Prentice Thomas and Associates John D. Sims 4John Sims & Associates Robert H. Lafferty, III 5Mid-Continental Research Associates Publisher: Seismological Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-2057 Print ISSN: 0895-0695 © 2005 by the Seismological Society of America Seismological Research Letters (2005) 76 (4): 489–501. https://doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.76.4.489 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Martitia P. Tuttle, Eugene S. Schweig, Janice Campbell, Prentice M. Thomas, John D. Sims, Robert H. Lafferty; Evidence for New Madrid Earthquakes in A.D. 300 and 2350 B.C.. Seismological Research Letters 2005;; 76 (4): 489–501. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.76.4.489 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search Abstract Six episodes of earthquake-induced liquefaction are associated with soil horizons containing artifacts of the Late Archaic (3000-500 B.C.) and Early to Middle Woodland (500 B.C.-A.D. 400) cultural periods at the Burkett archaeological site in the northern part of the New Madrid seismic zone, where little information about prehistoric earthquakes has been available. Radiocarbon dating of organic material and analysis of artifacts are used to estimate the ages of the liquefaction features and times of the causative earthquakes. The most recent episode of liquefaction occurred after A.D. 1670, produced small sand dikes, and is probably related to the 1895 Charleston, Missouri earthquake. The preceding episode struck the area in A.D. 300 ± 200 years and generated a sand blow that contains Late Woodland artifacts and buries an Early to Middle Woodland cultural horizon. Four older episodes of liquefaction occurred in 2350 B.C. ± 200 years and may have been produced by a sequence of closely timed earthquakes. The four earlier episodes produced graben structures, sand dikes, and associated sand blows on which a cultural mound was constructed. The Burkett liquefaction features that formed about 2350 B.C. and A.D. 300 are relatively large and similar in age to other liquefaction features in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri, respectively. If the prehistoric features at the Burkett site and those of similar age elsewhere in the region are the result of the same earthquakes, then this suggests that they were similar in size to the three largest (M 7-8) 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes. A New Madrid-type earthquake in A.D. 300 ± 200 years would support an average recurrence time of 500 years. Although this study extends the earthquake chronology back to 2500 B.C., it is uncertain that the record of New Madrid events is complete for the period between 2350 B.C. and A.D. 300. As demonstrated by this study, information about other prehistoric earthquakes may be buried beneath fluvial deposits of the Mississippi River Valley. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.