GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL PROGRESS AT THE COOPER'S FERRY SITE, IDAHO

Geoarchaeological research at the Cooper's Ferry site in western Idaho's lower Salmon River canyon conducted since 1997 has generated a range of key insights into issues of site formation, geochronology, and paleoenvironmental conditions. A review of recent progress in the geoarchaeological study of Cooper's Ferry is provided with emphasis on the incorporation of new technologies and methods that enhance traditional approaches to the study of site stratigraphy. Specifically, I discuss the use of portable x-ray fluorescence to characterize and clarify lithostratigraphic sequences in both profile and plan perspectives. I also describe new applications of three dimensional scanning and GIS technology as a means of building a high-resolution geoarchaeological informatics framework at Cooper's Ferry.