The Archaeology of Contemporary Landfills

Bibliographic Data

ID2575197
AuthorsWilliam L Rathje (University of Arizona, corresponding author), Wilson W Hughes (University of Arizona), Douglas C Wilson (0000-0002-5129-1624, University of Arizona), M K Tani, Motohiro Tani (0000-0003-4316-8260, University of Arizona), Gavin H Archer (University of Arizona), R G Hunt, Travis W Jones (0000-0001-8237-1726, University of Arizona)
Year1992
Volume57
Issue3
Pages437-447
Publication date1992-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Antiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7316 • E-ISSN: 2325-5064
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/280932
OpenAlexW4253953721
LanguageEN
Citations received8

The Garbage Project has excavated eight sanitary landfulls from California to Florida and analyzed 6.71 metric tons of refuse deposited between 1952 and 1988. While the ultimate goal of this continuing endeavor is to collect archaeological data on contemporary discards using a methodology that will link our society to the past, this initial report relates Garbage Project data to three issues of current public concern. This first applied archaeology of landfills has identified: (1) the contents of specific landfills and possible refinements for 'national' estimates of U.S. landfill contents; (2) a link between moisture level and rate of refuse decomposition; and (3) part of the pathway of migration for heavy metals

Archaeology · Garbage · Geography · Waste management · Engineering · Environmental Justice and Health Disparities · Environmental Science · Geophysical Methods and Applications · History · Landfill Environmental Impact Studies