Earthquake-induced burial of archaeological sites along the southern Washington coast about A.D. 1700

Geoarchaeology - An International Journal
By: , and 

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Abstract

Although inhabited by thousands of people when first reached by Europeans, the Pacific coast of southern Washington has little recognized evidence of prehistoric human occupation. This apparent contradiction may be explained partly by geologic evidence for coastal submergence during prehistoric earthquakes on the Cascadia subduction zone. Recently discovered archaeological sites, exposed in the banks of two tidal streams, show evidence for earthquake-induced submergence and consequent burial by intertidal mud about A.D. 1700. We surmise that, because of prehistoric earthquakes, other archaeological sites may now lie hidden beneath the surfaces of modern tidelands. Such burial of archaeological sites raises questions about the estimation of prehistoric human population densities along coasts subject to earthquake-induced submergence.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Earthquake-induced burial of archaeological sites along the southern Washington coast about A.D. 1700
Series title Geoarchaeology - An International Journal
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6548(199603)11:2<165::AID-GEA4>3.0.CO;2-3
Volume 11
Issue 2
Year Published 1996
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Description 13 p.
First page 165
Last page 177
Country United States
State Washington
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