Heidi Luchsinger, MA, PhD, RPA’s Post

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

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

Has it? That was published 25 years ago. Geoarchaeology should be middle age by now. (the field, not the geoarchaeologists) What does middle-aged geoarchaeology look like? Are we there yet? Mainstream? Those are the first few questions I ask in my "Letter from the Chair" to the Society for American Archaeology's Geoarchaeology Interest Group this year. More to follow. By the way, the citation: Tina Niemi, “Geoarchaeology—Where Do We Go from Here?” American Journal of Archaeology 103 (1999). Yes, we've made great strides. But enough? #GIG #geoarchaeologyinterestgroup #societyforamericanarchaeology #culturalheritage #STP #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

Imagine this- You're standing on this shore, North Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico? Incredible choice, right? Southeastern coast of Lake Erie, NY. Along with the other Great Lakes, these waters flow northeast through the St. Lawrence River into the Atlantic on the eastern Canadian coast. Go ca. 8 miles southeast, those waters flow into glacial Lake Chautauqua (my origin- the town, not the lake) and eventually into the Gulf via the Ohio (there last week) and Mississippi Rivers. What an opportunity! Ready access to a demi-continent of resources. No wonder humans always thrived in these parts. For so many thousands of years. Rivers (and lakes) were critical. Let's not underestimate the river systems. Let's keep the humans in the landscape. Let's keep the geo in archaeology. Let's do this together. (And that's very tall coastal cutbank profile behind me. I can see the paleosols from here. It's awesome. Not fair.) #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 #lakeerie #chautauqualake #erie #chautauqua #newyork #greatlakes #stlawrence

Never give up. That's critical. Be a warrior for archaeology. You know it's too important. That story of our human past, can be lost forever. All too easily. Forge ahead. No one said it would be easy. It won't be. #5amclub #robinsharma #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

"...is investigating archaeological sites with solid geological contexts that are accurately dated. Only rigorously investigated sites using the best practices of archaeology, geoarchaeology, and geochronology will provide the primary and pivotal data to interpret the past." - Michael Waters (2019: 365) Listen to Mike. Trust me, I did both graduate degrees with him. Yes, he put up with me. 😉 #yearofgeoarchaeology #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

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

We don't have all the answers. YOU do. We're just continuing the discussion. And will never stop. Page 3 from the Society for American Archaeology's "The SAA Archaeological Record" (May 2024). Feel free to reach out to me or any of us about what you have to say and want to see happen. Also, I now have a number of opportunities (publishing and conference) for geoarchaeologists to be heard. Let me know what you want to do. Let's do this. - Heidi Chair, SAA Geoarchaeology Interest Group #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #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

“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

You going? You should. Why? You'll get to participate in the forum: "The Archaeological Power of Geoarchaeology: Where is Geoarchaeology Going in the US?" (Sunday, 10 am) What better question is that? None. You'll also get to attend the Business Meeting of SAA's Geoarchaeology Interest Group (Thursday, 5:30). Socializing to follow. Do that. #culturalheritage #STP #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