Abstract

Native earthworms were removed from glaciated areas of North America during the late Pleistocene. Re-colonization by Native species, following glaciation was excessively slow. The lack of earthworm fauna in many parts of the Canadian landscape has had a significant impact on soil development on archaeological sites. Moreover, the introduction of European exotics by a wide variety of unintentional means has a great impact on surface soil development. Soil defaunation and recolonization impacts are critical to understanding soil development over time, the environmental records available from past soil development, and the preservation of surface components on archaeological sites.