Major land use shifts have occurred in New England over the past 400 years. The pollen record, preserved in riparian soils, may assist in identifying these land use changes. Our objectives were to identify alluvial markers of land use shifts in riparian zones and to establish timeframes using the pollen record and radiocarbon ages. Soils at six New England riparian sites were described and sampled. Three of the sites were in agricultural watersheds and three in watersheds with extensive urban development. Soil samples were processed to isolate and identify pollen. Plant fragments from selected horizons were analyzed using radiocarbon analysis to determine relative ages. Transects were completed to collect data on soil morphology and alluvial deposition across the riparian zones. Historic aerial photographs (1939) were reviewed to examine changes in land use in the watershed. Artifacts, such as pieces of plastic, were found as deep as 28 cm in the three soils of the urban riparian zones providing excellent markers of late 20th century deposition. Numerous dark, thin lenses, indicative of short term riparian surfaces developed during periods of agricultural land use and urbanization, were observed. Buried surface horizons, indicative of long periods of riparian stability prior to land use change, were identified. Depth to surfaces buried from land use change ranged from 14 to 124 cm, and related well to changes in the pollen record. Increases in weed and grass pollen marked expansion of colonial settlement and agricultural land use: c. 250 Y.B.P. Subsequent reforestation of abandoned agricultural lands was identified by increases in the abundance of hardwood and conifer pollen. The pollen record and radiocarbon ages can establish timeframes to relate soil morphology to land use change.