In anthropology, a blowout usually refers to a wind-eroded depression in sandy landscapes that can expose or disturb archaeological deposits. It is a geomorphological process studied in archaeology because it directly affects how sites are preserved, revealed, or destroyed.

🌍 Definition

• Blowout (Geomorphology/Archaeology): A hollow or depression formed by wind deflation in dune fields or sandy soils.
• Key Feature: Removal of loose sand by strong winds, leaving a basin-like depression.
• Anthropological Relevance: Blowouts can uncover buried cultural materials or scatter them, complicating site interpretation.

🔑 Archaeological Contexts

• Site Formation Processes:
  • Blowouts expose artifacts, bones, and cultural layers that were previously buried.
  • They can also erode and destroy stratigraphy, making dating and context difficult.
• Examples:
  • Blowout sites are documented in the Great Plains and Midwest, where Paleoindian and Archaic artifacts have been found in deflated dune systems.
• Material Evidence:
  • Lithic scatters, faunal remains, hearths, and other cultural deposits often appear in blowout exposures.

📚 Importance in Anthropology

• Technological Insight: Blowouts reveal lithic reduction sites and artifact scatters that might otherwise remain buried.
• Cultural Identity: Communities living in dune or desert environments adapted to landscapes shaped by blowouts.
• Comparative Value: Blowouts highlight how natural processes (wind, erosion) interact with human activity in shaping archaeological records.
• Material Culture Link: Artifacts found in blowouts often represent secondary deposition, requiring careful contextual analysis.

In short: In anthropology, a blowout is a wind-eroded depression that can both reveal and distort archaeological evidence, making it a critical factor in site formation and interpretation.

Sources: University of Nebraska State Museum – Andersen Collection (Blowout sites).