Every situation is unique, but most of the time campsites and villages tend to occur in the patterns indicated on the map.
The landforms are similar to those found in most river drainages.
See map below for example landforms and possible ancient settlement patterns. Every situation is unique, but most of the time campsites and villages tend to occur in the patterns indicated on the map. The landforms are similar to those found in most river drainages.
Forming the river banks and backswamps are floodplains that are subject to at least annual flooding. It is an area rich in wildlife but not as suitable for habitation because of insects and water. Any villages that were located in the lowest lowlands have likely been covered with alluvium or silt deposited during the floods. Exceptions are high ground along natural beach levees and the natural levees of rivers. A natural river levee forms when the silt of floodwaters is deposited near the bank when floodwaters leave the banks of the river. Natural levees often contain ancient village sites but may be deeply deposited with silt.
The word terrrace refers to ancient floodplains that are now elevated above the present flood plain. These ancient floodplains are now high and dry but are On the map, sites of the youngest elevated terrace are indicated with the number 1. Sites on an older more elevated terrace are designated with the number 2. The fact that a site is located on an older terrace does not necessarily mean that the site is older. Terrace surfaces are prime for hunting arrowheads and artifacts, provided good sites for agriculture then and now, and are easily recognized. You can often find terraces plowed for planting, which makes them especially interesting landforms.
basically level like the present day lowland. Some terraces are cut by streams that drain them and may be a little difficult to recognize. Several terraces of varying ages may be located one atop the other like stairs ascending the valley.
Rugged uplands were often good only for hunting and therefore do not tend to harbor large sites. Upland sites are designated as #3 type sites on the map. In upland areas, soil erosion is often rapid, and artifacts do tend to become exposed. They are often especially accessible in upland streambeds, which tend to concentrate artifacts washed from surrounding hillsides. The types of streams that tend to be worth hunting are indicated with the #4 on the map.
In areas of rich soil, many hilly areas could support family farmsteads and therefore will produce arrowheads.
Water was the lifeblood of almost all primitive cultures, and American Indians were no exception. Daily needs and activities would naturally center around a source of water. Hunting for both upland and lowland game is generally better around sources of water.
Keep in mind that thousands of years ago a river or lake was almost certainly not exactly where it is today. A river will move back and forth across it's valley, sometimes several times a century. In the process it will churn up lowland sites and mix their contents with the river gravels, but the sites on either side of the floodplain will remain intact.
