GEOMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES

(FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS)

The State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) of Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) requires geomorphological studies in conjunction with archaeological investigations, especially in flood plain settings.  The pedologist (soil scientist) or geomorphologist begins with the earliest reconnaissance phase to assess the potential for finding intact cultural resources at varying depths, and within different project alternatives.  Geomorphological assessments enable the archaeologists to concentrate field activities in areas which are most likely to produce positive results, while eliminating needless testing in areas that are too young, too old, or too disturbed, to support land surfaces which have supported prehistoric human occupation.