Micromorphological Analysis of Sediments from Meadowcroft Rockshelter, Pennsylvania: Implications for Radiocarbon Dating

Abstract

AbstractMeadowcroft Rockshelter (36WH297), in Pennsylvannia, is an important site in North American prehistory because of its long continuous sequence of occupation and its controversial pre-Clovis dates. While a geoarchaeological analysis of the site has been conducted over twelve seasons of excavation between 1973 and 1999, questions have remained concerning the potential for groundwater contamination of the lowest levels that could have contributed to falsely early radiocarbon dates. The present study employs a micromorphological analysis of sediments to clarify the depositional and post-depositional history of the site. The results largely confirm the original work of the excavators, pointing to deposition by attrition, roof fall, and sheet wash, and reveal no evidence of groundwater contamination of the early levels.