Middle to late Holocene Soil Geomorphological History at Crumps Cave and Sink, Potential Implications for Soil Conservation and Karst Terrains Today
Session Type
Technical Sessions: Conservation Tools
Start Date
18-8-2020 12:45 PM
Description
Geoarchaeological studies that document long-term soil geomorphological histories of karst landforms in association with paleoenvironmental and archaeological data provide perspective that may be informative for ad-dressing current soil erosion issues in karst terrains. Crumps Cave and Sink are located in the Sinkhole Plain and within the Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve. Archaeological excavations at Crumps Sink revealed stratified deposits spanning 7200 years ago to present. Magnetic susceptibility, loss-on-ignition, and soil micro-morphological analyses were conducted to examine landform dynamics in response to environmental change and human activities. Between 7200 and 5600 years ago sedimentation was consistent likely due to climatic conditions of the Middle Holocene Thermal Maximum. More pronounced episodes of soil formation between 5600 and 3900 years ago may signal shifting climatic regimes between the Middle and Late Holocene. Enhanced sedimentation occurred between 3900 and 3000 years ago, contemporaneous with increased Native American use of fire for forest clearance and Big Barrens grassland expansion. Beginning 3000 years ago, landform stability allowed for soil formation that lasted at least 2000 years. The most recent episode of sedimentation may relate to uphill erosion from plow-based agriculture. These insights are considered for their potential to inform our understanding of karst landform responses to environmental and human impacts today.
Recommended Citation
Carlson,, Justin Presenter, "Middle to late Holocene Soil Geomorphological History at Crumps Cave and Sink, Potential Implications for Soil Conservation and Karst Terrains Today" (2020). Conservation of Fragile Karst Resources Proceedings. 5.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/con_karst_res_proc/con_karst_pro_2020/day_one/5
Middle to late Holocene Soil Geomorphological History at Crumps Cave and Sink, Potential Implications for Soil Conservation and Karst Terrains Today
Geoarchaeological studies that document long-term soil geomorphological histories of karst landforms in association with paleoenvironmental and archaeological data provide perspective that may be informative for ad-dressing current soil erosion issues in karst terrains. Crumps Cave and Sink are located in the Sinkhole Plain and within the Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve. Archaeological excavations at Crumps Sink revealed stratified deposits spanning 7200 years ago to present. Magnetic susceptibility, loss-on-ignition, and soil micro-morphological analyses were conducted to examine landform dynamics in response to environmental change and human activities. Between 7200 and 5600 years ago sedimentation was consistent likely due to climatic conditions of the Middle Holocene Thermal Maximum. More pronounced episodes of soil formation between 5600 and 3900 years ago may signal shifting climatic regimes between the Middle and Late Holocene. Enhanced sedimentation occurred between 3900 and 3000 years ago, contemporaneous with increased Native American use of fire for forest clearance and Big Barrens grassland expansion. Beginning 3000 years ago, landform stability allowed for soil formation that lasted at least 2000 years. The most recent episode of sedimentation may relate to uphill erosion from plow-based agriculture. These insights are considered for their potential to inform our understanding of karst landform responses to environmental and human impacts today.
Comments
This presentation was part of the Technical Sessions on Conservation Tools. Presentation topics ranged from cave conservation techniques, environmental education, community engagement, resource protection assessment, and scientific and cultural research from across the globe. Formats vary from traditional PowerPoints to films to story maps and informal interviews.