Smithsonian: Delaware River study shows Native American impact


An archaeological research site along the banks of the Raymondskill Creek in the Delaware River Valley.
Photo Credit: Timothy Messner

New evidence gathered from sediments along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania is drastically revising theories about land use by Native Americans and the impact they once had on their environment. The new research reveals that from the period between 1100-1600 small agricultural settlements up and down the Delaware River Valley caused a 50-percent increase in sediment runoff into the Delaware River. This was done primarily by burn-clearing of as much as half of the forest-cover along the Delaware’s banks

Share |

Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 5/28/2011 6:00 AM
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: Delaware River native americans environment burnclearing agriculture sediment runoff
 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this post
  • No trackbacks exist for this post.
Comments
  • No comments exist for this post.
Leave a comment

Submitted comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.

 Name

 Email (will not be published)

 Website

Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.