 | The Geoarchaeology of Lake Michigan Coastal Dunes Subjects: Indians of North America -- Michigan -- Antiquities; Indians of North America -- Michigan Lake -- Antiquities; Archaeological geology -- Michigan Lake; Coastal archaeology -- Michigan Lake; Sand dunes -- Michigan Lake; Michigan Lake -- Antiquities; Complex sets of environmental factors have interacted over the past 5,000 years to affect how changes in climate, temperature, relative precipitation, and the levels of Lake Michigan influence the preservation of archaeological sites in coastal sand dunes along Lake Michigan. As a collaboration between earth scientists, archaeologists, and geoarchaeologists, this study draws on a wealth of research and multidisciplinary insights to explore the conditions necessary to safeguard ancient human settlements in these landscapes. A variety of contemporary and innovative techniques, including numerous dating methods and approaches, were employed to determine when and for how long sand dunes were active and when and for how long archaeological sites were occupied. Knowledge of dune processes and settlement patterns not only affects archaeological interpretations, but it is also consummately important to land planners responsible for managing heritage archaeological sites in the Lake Michigan coastal zone. William A. Lovis is Professor and Curator of Anthropology at Michigan State University. Alan F. Arbogast is Professor of Geography at Michigan State University. G. William Monaghan is Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University. |
