Inventory and Analysis of Archaeological Site Occurrence on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf
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OCS Study BOEM 2012-008 Inventory and Analysis of Archaeological Site Occurrence on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Gulf of Mexico OCS Region OCS Study BOEM 2012-008 Inventory and Analysis of Archaeological Site Occurrence on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Author TRC Environmental Corporation Prepared under BOEM Contract M08PD00024 by TRC Environmental Corporation 4155 Shackleford Road Suite 225 Norcross, Georgia 30093 Published by U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management New Orleans Gulf of Mexico OCS Region May 2012 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared under contract between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and TRC Environmental Corporation. This report has been technically reviewed by BOEM, and it has been approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of BOEM, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endoresements or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and compliance with BOEM editorial standards. REPORT AVAILABILITY This report is available only in compact disc format from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, at a charge of $15.00, by referencing OCS Study BOEM 2012-008. The report may be downloaded from the BOEM website through the Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS). You will be able to obtain this report also from the National Technical Information Service in the near future. Here are the addresses. You may also inspect copies at selected Federal Depository Libraries. U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Ocean Energy Management National Technical Information Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 5301 Shawnee Road Public Information Office (MS 5034) Springfield, Virginia 22312 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard Phone: (703) 605-6000, 1-800-553-6847 New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 Fax: (703) 605-6900 Phone: (504) 736-2519, 1-800-200-GULF Email: [email protected] Fax: (504) 736-2620 CITATION TRC Environmental Corporation. 2012. Inventory and analysis of archaeological site occurrence on the Atlantic outer continental shelf. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. OCS Study BOEM 2012-008. 324 pp. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................... xiii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. xv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................... xvii SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ...................................................................... 1 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 3 1.1. Prehistoric Probabilistic Model ................................................................................................. 4 1.2. Shipwreck Inventory ................................................................................................................. 4 1.3. Geographic and Temporal Divisions ......................................................................................... 5 1.4. Paleoshorelines and Sea Level Determination Framework ....................................................... 8 1.5. Coastal Response to Sea Level Change ................................................................................... 13 1.6. Archaeological Sensitivity for Prehistoric Sites ...................................................................... 14 1.7. Report Structure ...................................................................................................................... 14 2. PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT PATTERNS ............................................................................... 17 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 17 2.2. New England ........................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.1. Paleoindian Period .................................................................................................. 22 2.2.2. Early Archaic Period ............................................................................................... 27 2.2.3. Middle Archaic Period ............................................................................................ 28 2.3. Mid Coast ................................................................................................................................ 29 2.3.1. Paleoindian Period .................................................................................................. 30 2.3.2. Archaic Period ......................................................................................................... 34 2.4 Southeast ................................................................................................................................. 38 2.4.1. Paleoindian Period .................................................................................................. 38 2.4.2. Archaic Period ......................................................................................................... 40 2.5. Florida ..................................................................................................................................... 45 2.5.1. Paleoindian Period .................................................................................................. 45 2.5.2. Post-Paleoindian Period .......................................................................................... 46 SECTION 2 – CURRENT RESEARCH ................................................................................................ 49 3. GULF OF MAINE ............................................................................................................................. 51 3.1. Regional Geology .................................................................................................................... 51 3.2. Relative Sea Level Changes .................................................................................................... 51 3.3. Marine Transgression and Site Preservation ........................................................................... 54 3.4. Archaeological Sensitivity and Preservation Potential ............................................................ 60 4. SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND THE GEORGES BANK .................................................... 69 4.1. Regional Geology .................................................................................................................... 69 4.2. Relative Sea Level Changes .................................................................................................... 73 v 4.3. Marine Transgression and Site Preservation ........................................................................... 74 4.4. Archaeological Sensitivity and Preservation Potential ............................................................ 76 5. NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ................................................................................................... 81 5.1. Regional Geology .................................................................................................................... 81 5.2. Relative Sea Level Changes .................................................................................................... 87 5.3. Marine Transgression and Site Preservation ........................................................................... 88 5.4. Archaeological Sensitivity and Preservation Potential ............................................................ 90 6. MIDDLE ATLANTIC ....................................................................................................................... 95 6.1. Regional Geology .................................................................................................................... 95 6.2. Relative Sea Level Rise ........................................................................................................... 97 6.3. Marine Transgression and Site Preservation ........................................................................... 98 6.4. Archaeological Sensitivity and Preservation Potential .......................................................... 105 7. GEORGIA BIGHT .......................................................................................................................... 109 7.1. Regional Geology .................................................................................................................. 109 7.2. Relative Sea Level Rise ......................................................................................................... 117 7.3. Marine Transgression and Site Preservation ......................................................................... 117 7.4. Archaeological Sensitivity and Preservation Potential .........................................................