GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE BELOW FORKS SITE: ASSESSMENT OF MID-HOLOCENE PALEOENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY

The Forks locality is situated around the confluence of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers in central Saskatchewan and is one of four ecologically complex, archaeologically rich localities under investigation by SCAPE (Study of Cultural Adaptations within the Prairies Ecozone). The Forks locality is comprised of five archaeological sites: the St. Louis Bridge, Intake, Harper Valley, Fenton Ferry, and Below Forks sites. Each of these sites is positioned locally along river terraces, and regionally within a transitional zone between the boreal forest and parkland ecotone. As a result, the Forks locality is covered by diverse vegetation groups represented by aspen, conifer, poplar, birch, and a wide variety of shrubs particularly saskatoon berry. Each of the sites within the Forks locality contains Mid-Holocene archaeological materials dated from the historic period to as early as 7900 RCYBP. They are associated with up to 23 thin (>10cm) buried soil profiles with black, 1-2 cm thick buried A-horizons. These horizons lack well-developed pedologic structure and are separated by a series of overbank deposits. The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary results of research including particle size analysis, loss on ignition, percent organic carbonate, pollen counts, and mollusc data conducted at the Harper Valley and Below Forks sites to determine the geoarchaeological and paleoenvironmental significance of these buried soil profiles. These data suggest that the buried soil profiles represent soil formation under conditions similar to those currently present throughout the Forks locality, particularly length of landscape stability and vegetation. It appears that the buried soils developed in association with vegetation comparable to the present and represent periods of short soil development covered by rapid sedimentation. Therefore, while regional climate fluctuated through the Holocene, local environmental conditions within the Forks riparian/parkland zone were little affected, arguably allowing diverse resources to remain available, even during drought periods, from the late-Paleo-Indian period to European contact.