Geomorphology and Potential for Burial of Archeological Materials at Fort Benning, Georgia

The primary objective of the geomorphic analysis is to identify landform settings that could favor the preservation of buried archeological materials. In geomorphic terms, high potential for buried archeological sites does not necessarily mean that archeological materials are present. It simply means that buried land surfaces exist that could have offered suitable living sites and that subsurface archeological surveying techniques are necessary. Sediments that were deposited during terminal Pleistocene (12,000-10,000 yr BP) and Holocene (10,000-0 yr BP) epochs are generally considered to be the only sediments that offer much potential for the presence of buried artifacts. This is because widespread occupation of North America did not occur until about 11,500 years ago (Hoffecker et al., 1993; Meltzer, 1988). If people were here prior to 11 ,500 years ago, then their archeological record is virtually undetectable. Not all Holocene sediments offer high potential for buried archeological materials. Many sediments accumulated in environments that were not well suited for human occupation (i.e. swamps), and therefore offer low to no potential.

This report discusses the main types of geomorphic settings and landforms at Fort Benning (dissected uplands, fluvial, and eolian regimes) and their relevance to site burial potential. Specific reference is made to compartments listed as parts of Delivery Order #3 (A6, BB5, CC2, D12, DI6, E3, E8, Kl, K5, Kl3, L5, Rl) and Delivery Order #5 (A5, A7, B6, O11, D 17, E 1, E2, FS, K8, K10, K11, L3, O3, O6, S1 ). Field evidence is drawn from compartments where field observations were actually made, which are in boldface type above. In other compartments where field visits were not conducted a general overview of geomorphic contexts is based on landscape similarities to places where field observations were made. In general, an overview of alluvial, colluvial, eolian, and pedogenic processes and settings is provided to facilitate interpretation archeological data and to provide guidance for the identification of landscape settings where deep archeological testing is necessary.