Archaeological and Geomorphological Survey of the Downstream Corridor, Saylorville Lake, Iowa.
Abstract
The Downstream Corridor is approximately 1,500 acres of floodplain along the Des Moines River between the Saylorville Dam and the City of Des Moines. A comprehensive archaeological survey of this area was conducted for two reasons: to locate cultural resources, and to place known cultural resources in their geomorphic context. The fieldwork consisted of an intensive surface survey by an archaeologist and sub-surface investigation by a geomorphologist/pedologist. A total of 596 acres of prehistoric landscape was intensively surveyed while 904 acres of recent landscape was reconnoitered. The results reported herein include: a reconstruction of the Holocene physiography of the valley within the reach of the project area; description of 26 prehistoric and 16 historic sites; analysis of the physiographic context of these archaeological sites; correlations between the Des Moines valley and other Midwestern, Holocene sequences; and recommendations for future geo-archaeological investigations in the Des Moines valley. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA109586
Entities
People
- E. Arthur Bettis Iii
Organizations
- Luther College