Archaeological Wet Sites and Preservation

Flashcards defining archaeological wet sites, anaerobic preservation conditions, and the Ozette Site case study.

Archaeological Wet Site (Water-logged Site)

An archaeological environment devoid of oxygen (anaerobic) that contains minimal to no microorganisms—such as swamps, marshes, peat bogs, fens, or lakes—which aids in the preservation of a wide range of organic materials including wood, leather, textiles, and bone.

Anaerobic Environment

A setting devoid of oxygen that supports minimal to no microorganisms, thereby inhibiting decomposition and facilitating the preservation of organic artifacts and ecofacts that are normally not preserved in most archaeological contexts.

Ozette Site

A coastal archaeological wet site in the Northwest U.S. where a mudslide ca. 1700 AD/CE created an anaerobic setting that preserved over 55,000 artifacts, the majority of which consisted of wooden items.