Reaccumulation

Reaccumulation is the process by which material or substances accumulate again after an initial accumulation has ceased or been disrupted. It implies a renewal of deposition or collection following a period of pause, removal, or erosion.

In geology and sedimentology, reaccumulation refers to episodes in which sediments are deposited again in a location after prior erosion, transport, or removal. Such events can be driven by changes in flow regimes, climate, or tectonic conditions and often produce composite stratigraphic sequences with multiple depositional events.

In archaeology and paleontology, reaccumulation describes the secondary deposition of artifacts or fossils. Remains can be moved by natural processes or human activity and re-deposited in a site, creating mixed assemblages or bonebeds that complicate interpretations of age, context, and use.

In hydrology, the term is sometimes used to describe the refilling or recharge of a reservoir, aquifer, or basin after depletion due to pumping, evaporation, or drainage. Reaccumulation in this sense relates to changes in hydraulic balance and groundwater levels.

Significance of reaccumulation lies in its impact on interpreting depositional histories, dating accuracy, and environmental reconstructions. Distinguishing primary deposition from reaccumulated material is a common challenge across disciplines, often requiring stratigraphic, sedimentologic, or isotopic analyses.

See also: deposition, rework, secondary deposition, recharge.