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Tephrochronology and its Application to Problems in New-World Archaeology

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Tephra Studies

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series ((ASIC,volume 75))

Abstract

Quaternary tephra layers abound in the Americas, especially in the western and central part. Few of them have been examined in detail. At present, New-World archaeologists use tephra horizons mainly as marker beds for correlation purposes and, where the local tephra sequence has been dated, as rough age indicators for their sites. They are beginning to realize the importance of tephra deposits as: (1) thick caps of sediment that can protect artifacts from disturbance and plunder; (2) indicators of ancient natural disasters; (3) potential sources for radiometric dates; and (4) material suitable for the application of approximate dating methods. Case histories from El Salvador, Central Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest are presented to demonstrate how useful tephra layers are to archaeologists.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA

    Virginia Steen-McIntyre

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  1. Virginia Steen-McIntyre
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA

    S. Self

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, England

    R. S. J. Sparks

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© 1981 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Steen-McIntyre, V. (1981). Tephrochronology and its Application to Problems in New-World Archaeology. In: Self, S., Sparks, R.S.J. (eds) Tephra Studies. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 75. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8537-7_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8537-7_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8539-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8537-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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