Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA
A previously buried paleosol was found on the continental shelf during a study of sea floor scour, nucleated by large artificial reef structures such as vessel hulks, barges, train cars, military vehicles, etc., called “scour nuclei”. It is a relic paleo-land surface of sapling-sized tree stumps, ro...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Ervan G. Garrison Matthew A. Newton Benjamin Prueitt Emily Carter Jones Debra A. Willard |
| author_facet | Ervan G. Garrison Matthew A. Newton Benjamin Prueitt Emily Carter Jones Debra A. Willard |
| author_sort | Ervan G. Garrison |
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| description | A previously buried paleosol was found on the continental shelf during a study of sea floor scour, nucleated by large artificial reef structures such as vessel hulks, barges, train cars, military vehicles, etc., called “scour nuclei”. It is a relic paleo-land surface of sapling-sized tree stumps, root systems, and fossil animal bone exhumed by scour processes active adjacent to the artificial reef structure. Over the span of five research cruises to the site in 2022–2024, soil samples were taken using hand excavation, PONAR grab samplers, split spoon, hollow tube auger, and a modified Shelby-style push box. High-definition (HD) video was taken using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and diver-held cameras. Radiocarbon dating of wood samples returned ages of 42,015–43,417 calibrated years before present (cal yrBP). Pollen studies, together with the recovered macrobotanical remains, support our interpretation of the site as a freshwater forested wetland whose keystone tree species was <i>Taxodium distichum</i>—bald cypress. The paleosol was identified as an Aquult, a sub-order of Ultisols where water tables are at or near the surface year-round. A deep (0.25 m+) argillic horizon comprised the bulk of the preserved soil. Comparable Ultisols found in Georgia wetlands include Typic Paleaquult (Grady and Bayboro series) soils. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d9a6cbc10cec4e21bb57d64ab87f13ea2025-08-20T03:32:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512685910.3390/app15126859Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USAErvan G. Garrison0Matthew A. Newton1Benjamin Prueitt2Emily Carter Jones3Debra A. Willard4Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAWashington State Department of Ecology, Nuclear Waste Program, Richland, WA 99354, USADepartment of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USAUnited States Geological Survey, Reston, VA 20192, USAA previously buried paleosol was found on the continental shelf during a study of sea floor scour, nucleated by large artificial reef structures such as vessel hulks, barges, train cars, military vehicles, etc., called “scour nuclei”. It is a relic paleo-land surface of sapling-sized tree stumps, root systems, and fossil animal bone exhumed by scour processes active adjacent to the artificial reef structure. Over the span of five research cruises to the site in 2022–2024, soil samples were taken using hand excavation, PONAR grab samplers, split spoon, hollow tube auger, and a modified Shelby-style push box. High-definition (HD) video was taken using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and diver-held cameras. Radiocarbon dating of wood samples returned ages of 42,015–43,417 calibrated years before present (cal yrBP). Pollen studies, together with the recovered macrobotanical remains, support our interpretation of the site as a freshwater forested wetland whose keystone tree species was <i>Taxodium distichum</i>—bald cypress. The paleosol was identified as an Aquult, a sub-order of Ultisols where water tables are at or near the surface year-round. A deep (0.25 m+) argillic horizon comprised the bulk of the preserved soil. Comparable Ultisols found in Georgia wetlands include Typic Paleaquult (Grady and Bayboro series) soils.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6859Quaternary paleosolAtlanticcontinental shelf |
| spellingShingle | Ervan G. Garrison Matthew A. Newton Benjamin Prueitt Emily Carter Jones Debra A. Willard Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA Applied Sciences Quaternary paleosol Atlantic continental shelf |
| title | Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA |
| title_full | Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA |
| title_fullStr | Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA |
| title_short | Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA |
| title_sort | discovery of an intact quaternary paleosol georgia bight usa |
| topic | Quaternary paleosol Atlantic continental shelf |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6859 |
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