Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Fall 2017

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Committee Chair

Steven Hackenberger

Second Committee Member

Patrick M. Lubinski

Third Committee Member

William Smith

Abstract

The Sanders site (45KT315) was excavated in 1971 and 1972 by Central Washington State College under the direction of Dr. William Smith, then Associate Professor of Anthropology at CWSC. A total of 88 1 x 1 meter units were excavated up to 270 cm below surface. During the initial excavations and in subsequent student work, there was investigation of what would now be called site geoarchaeology, but this work was not reported in detail. In this thesis, I synthesize existing records on site stratigraphy and completed new field characterization and laboratory analyses to build a geoarchaeological summary for the site. The site stratigraphy is characterized by episodic deposition and is the result of the interaction of fluvial, aeolian and colluvial processes. Periods of landform stability are marked by soil formation. Sediments preserved on-site appear to contain a relatively complete record of the Holocene, whereas across the creek at 45KT726, the earlier Holocene sediments have been stripped away by fluvial processes. Periods of landform stability and soil formation at Sanders roughly match the alluvial cycles presented for the Fogoil Project on the Yakima Training Center.

Language

English

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