Carolina Bay geoarchaeology and Holocene landscape evolution on the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina

Abstract

Surface water on the mainly dry, upland interfluves of the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina occurs currently as a sporadic distribution of shallow ponds held within Carolina bays and other small, isolated basins. At seven bays on the US. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site on the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina, we investigated Holocene changes in bay morphology, ecology, and prehistoric human activity. At Flamingo Bay, we employed archaeological survey and testing, shovel and auger testing, sediment analysis, and ground-penetrating radar to document stratigraphy and chronology of the sand rim on the eastern side of the bay. Artifact assemblage indicate changes in intensity of human use of the bay. Radiocarbon dates from a sediment core establish time scales for depositional processes at the center of the basin. Ground-penetrating radar data from the other bays indicate that the stratigraphy of all seven bays is broadly similar. We conclude t h a t (1) Significant modification of the bays, including rim development and basin infilling, occurred during the Holocene; (2) ponds on the early Holocene landscape were larger and more permanent than at present; (3) early Holocene climate, as indicated by both depositional processes and human activity, was not characterized by prolonged periods of extremely dry conditions; and (4) fluvial-centric models of terminal Pleistocene-early Holocene human adaptations require revision to include intensive use of isolated upland ponds.

DOE Research Set-Aside Areas of the Savannah River Site

“…IMahoney et al (1990) and used these bays to examine the community structure of zooplankton in SRS Carolina bays. Other recent research has been conducted on the geoarchaeology of the bay rims (Brooks et al, 1996). Fish surveys by suggest that these two bays have relatively high fish species richness when compared to other SRS bays.…”

“…Additional detailed descriptions of this bay can be found in , Lide et al (1995), and Brooks et al (1996). The 1.56-mile (2.51 km) boundary line of this Area is marked with the metal DOE Research Set-Aside Area signs.…”

“…The Thunder Bay Set-Aside is one of six bays surveyed by the Savannah River Archaeology Research Program (SRARP) to determine whether there was evidence of prehistoric occupation of the bay rim (Brooks et al, 1996). …”

“…Soils in the upland buffer area are predominantly the somewhat excessively drained sandy loams of the Blanton series (55%) and the well-drained sandy loams of the Fuquay series (21.6%; Table 20 (Brooks et al, 1996) and studies of bacterial assemblages found in the bay . Schalles and Shure (1989) surveyed Thunder Bay for aquatic invertebrates and herpetofauna in the 1970's.…”

“…Flamingo Bay (SRS Bay No. 3--see ) is classified as an aquatic habitat with various plant community associations (Brooks et al, 1996). The interior basin of the bay contains a deep pool area that is devoid of vegetation; the shallower portions contain both aquatic and herbaceous vegetation as well as wetland trees and shrubs.…”