Heidi Luchsinger, MA, PhD, RPA’s Post

Geoarchaeologists are Efficiency Experts. Yes. Seek the LHBPM. Resist the MSD. Got a new project? Deep Vertical APE? For Highest Impact, involve us early on for: Landscape History Based Probability Modeling (LHBPM). Models NOT based on modern surface soils, modern surface slope, and/or modern surface distance to water. Those are Modern. Not Old. We want old landscapes with fine deposits contemporary with human occupation. We target the subsurface by deep testing those deep Vertical APEs. And it is very difficult to see the subsurface from the surface or on a map. It's best seen in a trench or by extracting cores in the field. FACT: Old buried sites, Don't follow modern landscape rules. Resist the lure of MSD (Modern Surface Data). It's not revealing the story of the entire vertical APE. Mind the gap. Geoarchaeology is Archaeology. We'll get you to the finish line. Faster and better. "Streamlining and upgrading quality deliverables in CRM for decades." Caltrans, Thank YOU!! D Craig Young #farwestern #caltrans #california #geoarchaeologyisarchaeology #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geologicalsocietyofamerica #geoarchaeology #geology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvial #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #radiocarbon #geotechnical #glacial #lacustrine #GIS #hillshade

Didn’t get your copy? Darn. I kept putting them out around the conference. They kept disappearing. Then I ran out. Who knew? Society for American Archaeology members, join SAA’s Geoarchaeology Interest Group (GIG). $3 per year. This year will be like no other. It’s the Year of Geoarchaeology. No other reason needed. You’ll get our annual newsletter, periodic emails from your current GIG Chair (me), and invites to our monthly online meetings- to talk shop, how to advance geoarchaeology to full integration at every phase of every archaeological project, training, just about everything. And we got goals. Big ones. You don’t have to be a geoarchaeologist to join, just “geoarchaeology interested” works just fine. Join us! #SAA2024 #yearofgeoarchaeology #geoarchaeologyinterestgroup #archaeologicalpowerofgeoarchaeology #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geoarchaeology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvialterraces #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #gsa #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #OSL #micromorphology #radiocarbon #geoprobe #geotechnical #geotechnicalinvestigation #drilling #drillingrig

19 papers… from the Navy Seals of archaeology. CRM geoarchaeology conducted all over the US- on land and underwater. Geoarchaeologists from all corners, will descend on Denver next April. 52 geoarchaeology presentations in all, on the geoarchaeology of just about anything and any environment you can imagine. If this is what you’ve been missing, we’ve got you covered. See you in Denver. #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geologicalsocietyofamerica #geoarchaeology #geology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvial #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #radiocarbon #geotechnical #glacial #lacustrine #GIS #hillshade #denver #colorado

One year ago, I started chasing rivers. Here. Floodplain of the Hudson. No idea why. Curiosity probably. Followed upstream. Then the next one. Then worked down the coast. Best road trip ever. Rivers carry water from sky to ocean. Powerful, authentic. Carving complicated paths that constantly change. And they can be so difficult to figure out. Although some are easy. Protecting archaeological sites, deeply, for a very, very long time. Find your thing. Connect. Protect that. It’ll happen. This year, I’m studying rivers. Many rivers. Throughout the Americas. In my lab, my office, with awesome teams. To my LinkedIn Community: You so rock. You’ve supported me this year, like you have no idea. THANK YOU. Now let’s do this: Year of Geoarchaeology. 2025: The Geoarchaeological Renaissance? 😉 Can’t stop a river. #chasingrivers #hudson #newyork #yearofgeoarchaeology #ermgeoarchaeology #ermculturalheritage #SAA2024 #SAA2025 #archaeologicalpowerofgeoarchaeology #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geoarchaeology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvialterraces #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #gsa #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #OSL #micromorphology #radiocarbon #geoprobe #geotechnical #geotechnicalinvestigation #drilling #drillingrig

Don’t hold back. Don’t do it. Especially when radiocarbon dating a regional stratigraphic marker horizon for the archaeological record for a seriously large portion of a continent. Throw the dice. Yes! It worked! Nope. Didn’t hold back. Inside these little bags of dirt is data for confirming a regional stratigraphic marker horizon for Argentine Patagonia. For the archaeological record. Yes, the whole thing. I collected them along that coast in February. Remember the winds and flocks of wild parrots? Yes, that. Be you. That’s what you’re best at. Learning experiences eventually lead to clarity and success. The more, the better. Hang in there. It’ll happen. Sarah Sheehan you are a rockstar!! Go talk to Sarah. Tell her I sent you. #yearofgeoarchaeology #ermgeoarchaeology #ermculturalheritage #SAA2024 #archaeologicalpowerofgeoarchaeology #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geoarchaeology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvialterraces #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #gsa #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #OSL #micromorphology #radiocarbon #geoprobe #geotechnical #geotechnicalinvestigation #drilling #drillingrig #argentina #patagonia #rionegro #lithics #sanblas #yale

Another confluence! Merging of the Shenandoah and Potomac. Archaeological Power of the Confluence. Whoa. A place has historical significance? Very (very) likely it had pre-Contact significance also. And for a much, much longer time. And floodplains along steep bedrock channels? Don’t underestimate. Bad idea. Yes, high energy flooding can have associated low energy flooding too. Look at the margins, the benches, the quiet niches. Where fine sediments were carefully deposited over archaeological sites. Look for where water would have seeped and stood. Quietly. And always (ALWAYS) scrutinize, dissect, core, that first terrace. Also. Where it’s at. #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geologicalsocietyofamerica #geoarchaeology #geology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvial #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #radiocarbon #geotechnical #glacial #lacustrine #harpersferry #westvirginia #confluence #shenandoah #potomac

If archaeology is required for potential subsurface disturbance below the vertical limit of shovel testing, run, don't walk, to your nearest geoarchaeologist. They live for this and want to help. Very likely, it will save your project time, money, and increase the likelihood of a project moving forward more efficiently. Mind the gap. Then investigate it, thoroughly. For those buried sites. It's too important. #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geologicalsocietyofamerica #geoarchaeology #geology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvial #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #radiocarbon #geotechnical #glacial #lacustrine #GIS #hillshade

The Ohio River. After dark. What better evidence is there of how people really like to inhabit river valleys? No idea. And not a new idea. Deep test that alluvium. Below the terminal depth of shovel tests whenever possible. It’s the ethical and sustainable thing to do. Modern soil characteristics do not matter. Deep alluvium is not modern. And it likely contains archaeological sites, potentially in very good condition. Plus, a photo from an airplane of a river that looks like it is on fire is… just fun. Almost home. To get ready to go back out to deep test. One of my favorite landscapes in the US. #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2024 #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geoarchaeology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvialterraces #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #gsa #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #OSL #micromorphology #radiocarbon #geoprobe #geotechnical #geotechnicalinvestigation #drilling #drillingrig

I don’t understand the difference between art and science. Yes, her eyes pierce through her head. That’s sky you see through them. Artists and scientists trying to understand the world, trying to explain the world, using medium or data. Creativity, rigor, mastery, meaning. What’s the difference? North Carolina Museum of Art. Today. “Counterculture” (2022) Rose B. Simpson Indigenous American Five figures in a row like her, look across “…vast homelands from which Native communities were forcibly removed to make way for settler colonialism…implore us to go forward with respect and honor for all that came before.” Us archaeologists need to never forget that. Ever. There is beauty and depth in art as there is in science. #ncma #rosebsimpson #counterculture #raleigh #northcarolina #geoarchaeologyisarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geologicalsocietyofamerica #geoarchaeology #geology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvial #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #radiocarbon #geotechnical #glacial #lacustrine #GIS #hillshade

“Geoarchaeology Within the Context of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Today” Denver, 2025. “In the United States, professional geoarchaeologists have conducted investigations in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) for more than 40 years. Some work as independent subcontractors, others as part of CRM, environmental, or engineering firms. In recent years, requirements for geoarchaeological analyses and fieldwork (e.g., buried archaeological site sensitive modeling, deep testing) have increased significantly although demands and regulatory standards and practices still vary widely across the country. The trend and momentum continue to accelerate indicating trained geoarchaeologists will continue to be in demand. This session highlights the work of contemporary CRM geoarchaeologists who are actively practicing research and fieldwork. Their papers illustrate the many challenges and archaeological research questions that can be addressed by the integration of the geosciences and archaeology, and the benefits of this integration for any archaeological investigation and successful project management and completion.” Don’t miss this session either. Co-organized by me and Karl Kibler, RPA https://lnkd.in/eBJqrPYw #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geologicalsocietyofamerica #geoarchaeology #geology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvial #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #radiocarbon #geotechnical #glacial #lacustrine #GIS #hillshade #denver #colorado