ARCHAIC PERIOD RESEARCH
Numerous Archaic period (circa 11,500 to 3,000 year old) archaeological sites have been found within the interior of the Delmarva peninsula. Not surprisingly, these sites are associated with plowed or tilled landscapes.The large number of sites in these settings is largely byproduct of historic agricultural practices.
Tilling destabilizes the ground surface and accelerates landsurface erosion.
The amount of erosion can be approximated by dated-historic cemeteries located in plowed fields (A, B, and C; below).
The apparent density of Archaic sites in the interior tilled fields can be directly linked to historic land-use practices.
