PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SQUIRREL HILL SITE (36WM35)

A geomorphologic study of the Squirrel Hill site, a Johnston Phase (AD 1450-1590) Monongahela Tradition site, is the focus of this research. Previous work completed by IUP has documented much of the material culture found at the site. Through previous fieldwork, the northern boundary of the site was extended during the IUP summer archaeological field school in 2022, and a suspected paleochannel was discovered. The presence of an Archaic component beneath the Monongahela Tradition component is believed to be present based on radiocarbon dating of a feature. However, due to the instability of the landform during the Archaic period, the extent of possible site preservation is unknown. This research project aims to use geomorphic and geophysical methods to 1.) Confirm the presence of a paleochannel, 2.) Study the sediments of the suggested paleochannel to gain insights about water flowrate and channel migration over time, and 3.) date the age of the channel to determine its temporal relationship to the Squirrel Hill site. This will be achieved by completing a GPR survey of the suspected paleochannel, as well as taking geomorphic auger samples, taken both within the extent of the suspected paleochannel and outside of it, and grain size analysis using accepted methodology to determine the environment of deposition.