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Aeolian and drainage classification data for various archaeological sites in Grand Canyon National Park along the Colorado River from 1973 to 2022

Metadata Updated: October 22, 2025

These data were compiled to assess the risk of erosion to archaeological site preservation. The objective of the study is to evaluate changes in archaeological site condition over time as a function of two geomorphology based conceptual models that evaluate the extent to which sites are potentially affected by 1) erosion from gullies, and 2) wind-driven (aeolian) supply of river-sourced sand, respectively. These data represent the results of two classification metrics, based on the two conceptual models, applied to a population of 362 archaeological sites over multiple decades. Both conceptual models numerically rank geomorphic conditions with class values of 1 representing the best potential for archaeological site preservation and larger number class values (e.g. 2, 3, 4...) representing lower potential for archaeological site preservation. These data were collected in Grand Canyon National Park using interpretation of aerial photography acquired between 1973 and 2021, and field investigations conducted between 2000 and 2022. These data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service. These data can be used to assess the extent to which sites are affected by erosion from gullies controlled by the base-level of the Colorado River. These data can be used to evaluate how the wind-driven (aeolian) supply of river-sourced sand, essential for covering archaeological sites and protecting them from erosion, has changed over time. These data can be used to assess potential downstream effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on archaeological site preservation. These data can be used to assess the extent to which dam regulated flows have influenced gully establishment and development as well as availability of the supply of river-sourced sand for wind-driven (aeolian) transport at each of the 362 archaeological sites over the last 5 decades. Observed changes in geomorphic condition can be used to infer potential changes in archaeological site integrity associated with decreased potential for archaeological site preservation.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 22, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 22, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-6439a00dd34ee8d4ade21948
Data Last Modified 2023-05-15T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id b5b52b45-791d-41b0-b689-f5c0ab1629ca
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -114.02379, 35.740126, -111.476798, 36.965854
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 626d24b6913433c2f0bb48a028efd5054b1923418ad99132cb52bbfc2d6046da
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -114.02379, 35.740126, -114.02379, 36.965854, -111.476798, 36.965854, -111.476798, 35.740126, -114.02379, 35.740126}

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