Abstract
Calcrete zones of cemented sands are found repeatedly at beach sites in the Mariana Islands,
western Pacific region, with mid- to late-Holocene artifacts and midden sealed within and
beneath these layers. Three site-specific cases demonstrate that the cementation process of
the calcareous sand material post-dated the deposition of artifacts and midden. Archaeological
efforts must be prepared for deep excavation through zones of cemented sand. Also, recov-
ery of preserved ancient materials can proceed by excavating large hardened blocks and soak-
ing in light (5%) acid. This knowledge about formation process and recovery technique may
prove useful not only in the Mariana Islands but also more broadly in other regions with sim-
ilar settings.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 501-513 |
Journal | Geoarchaeology: An International Journal |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |