site formation consists of natural processes human activities geological processes geoarchaeologists study landforms study site formation law of superposition study the natural and human processes that form sites apply concepts and methods from geology to archaeological sites stratigraphy layering of different geologic and cultural deposits at a site layers on the bottom were deposited earlier and are older than those on top sediments solid fragments of material from the weathering rock sand silt gravel stones transported by wind water or gravity sedimentary rock forms when sediments are deposited in water and once again to stone alluvial deposits sediments transported by water sorted or classified by size need high energy flow to carry heavy rocks heaviest drop out first smaller particles drop out later as water slows aeolian deposits sediments transported by wind sand dunes fine sand blown into rock shelters cid 127 may tai a long time to accumulate cid 127 marker bed easily identifiable geologic layer age confirmed at multiple sites can be used to date other sites relative dating things older or younger erupted 6 900 years ago cid 127 Oregon Cascades Formed Crater Lake cid 127 Mt Mazama ash is a marker bed for many archaeological sites in western us cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127
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