The systematic use of radiocarbon dating in archaeological surveys in coastal and other erosional environments

Traditionally, archaeologists have used C-14 dating primarily as a postexca vation analytical tool to establish the age of features, strata, or assembl ages. In coastal zones and other environments around the world, however tho usands of archaeological sites are rapidly eroding or endangered by other d estructive processes. We believe archaeologists should expand their use of C-14 dating, systematically incorporating it into surveys in coastal, lacus trine, riverine, and other environments where erosional exposures often pro vide access to extensive stratigraphic profiles. With examples from the Pac ific Coast of North America, we show how widespread C-14 dating of sites du ring surveys can be used to help manage archaeological sites more effective ly and identify significant patterns of paleoenvironmental change, site sur vival, settlement and demography, technology, and social organization. With out more widespread application of such techniques, and a reallocation of r esearch and cultural resource management funds, thousands of sites will be lost before even the most basic information about their age and contents is known.