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Paleocene-Eocene hyperthermals are viewed as some of the best ancient analogs for projected future anthropogenic climate change. In order to fully evaluate the magnitude of these climactic perturbations, however, a more complete understanding of prevailing background conditions is necessary. The Mississippi Embayment, a major southwest-dipping sedimentary basin in the Gulf of Mexico coastal region of North America, contains an extensive record of Paleocene strata deposited prior to the onset of the Paleocene Carbon Isotope Maximum (PCIM), a gradual warming trend upon which the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was superimposed. In order to evaluate pre-PCIM paleoclimate, we focus on paleosols in the Upper Paleocene Naheola Formation. A continuous section of the Naheola is available in archival core collected by Mississippi Minerals Resources Institute from Tippah County, Mississippi, USA. We performed a suite of initial core description methods, including logging of visual observations (e.g., grain size and Munsell colors), gamma density, magnetic susceptibility, smear slide analysis, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Results indicate a > 8-m-thick interval of 5 stacked paleosols associated with 4 lignite seams. The paleosols range in thickness from 0.6 m to 1.9 m, while the lignite seams range in thickness from 0.3 m to 1.3 m. Paleosols are characterized by low chroma matrix colors, mottling, and abundant carbonized roots. The thickest paleosols each exhibit an interval that coarsens and then fines upward; these are likely composite paleosols. Applying SEM-EDS results from all paleosols to the chemical index of alteration minus potash (CIA-K) yields preliminary mean annual precipitation estimates between 1200 and 1300 mm. The oldest paleosol contains abundant kaolinite and future stable isotope analysis will be used to reconstruct paleotemperature. Ongoing work will evaluate the relative influence of each of the five soil-forming factors on Naheola paleosol development and reexamine Paleocene- Eocene hyperthermals within the context of our results. Future work will include pollen analysis to improve chronostratigraphic control and evaluate paleoecological response to the Paleocene- Eocene climate change.