Last month, as we began backfilling Test Unit five, we had the opportunity to host a pair of visiting scientists.  These folks happened to be geomorphologists working on the Avon Park Bombing Range property.  These are scientists who study contemporary variation and previous evolution of landforms.  They seek to discover how the earth and in our case, sand and limestone, beneath our feet evolved over time and resulted in the hills, sinkholes, lakes, streams, rivers, and flood-basins we see today.

   The Avon Park Federal Archaeology initiative is conducting a Paleo-landscape study and these geomorphologists were consultants from out of town collecting data for analysis.  A Paleo-landscape study represents an analysis designed to reconstruct the evolution of the landscape over time.  These scientists were provided access to the southern wall profile of TU 5 and took samples at ten-centimeter increments from 50 to 200 CMBS.  They plan to analyze the sand grains at these elevations and match variation with changes in the landscape over time.  

   The previous assessment of the Blueberry landscape by a geomorphologist was conducted in 2006 by Dr. Rick Oches (previously of USF).  He surmised that the sand hills present across the landscape at the Blueberry Parcel were formed by wind-moving sand at the end of the Pleistocene Geologic Era around 12,000 years ago.   Interestingly, data collected so far suggests that the sand across the Blueberry site appears to be wind blown until one reaches around 200 CMBS where it begins to demonstrate characteristics of sand that may have been moved by water.  This change in the landscape might therefore correspond to the stabalization of the sand hills at the site.

   This kind of information can then be applied to archaeology by adding to our understanding of how cultural groups adapted to the environment.  Archaeological data demonstrates that the Blueberry site represents a fascinating case study representing the impact of the environment on habitation patterns.  For example, there is a clear relationship between artifact density and proximity to the terminous of the Lake Wales Ridge.  The confluence of two contrasting landforms (upland environment vs a lowland basin) provided an environment ideal for habitation. It will be interesting to see how this data can complement our understanding of the cultural environment at the site. 

   We eagerly await the results of their analysis and look forward to incorporating their results into the body of knowledge related to the most interesting and representative archaeological site in Highlands County, the Blueberry site!