A Handbook of Geoarchaeological Approaches to Settlement Sites and Landscapes (Studying Scientific Archaeology)

Geoarchaeology is a major branch of archaeological science at the interfaces between geology, geography and archaeology, involving the combined study of archaeological, soil and geomorphological records and the recognition of how natural, climatic and human-induced processes alter landscapes. The formation and modification of past soils, and occupation sequences can be examined primarily through the use of soil micromorphological techniques and various physical and geo-chemical techniques. This short text aims to explain some of the basics of geoarchaeological approaches and research design used to tackle the investigation of landscapes and settlement archaeology, and the application of soil micromorphology to archaeological situations. The intention is to present a basic handbook of good practice, with case studies and examples, that any archaeologist or aspiring geoarchaeologist can use. Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements Preface 1. Introduction 2. Approaches to investigating landscapes Theoretical and methodological considerations Factors affecting archaeological and environmental evidence recovery Formulating research design Investigating wetland landscapes Investigating dryland landscapes 3. Examples of fieldwork strategies and sampling applications The lower Welland valley, Cambridgeshire The chalk downlands of Cranborne Chase and the Stonehenge area The Rio Puerco valley, New Mexico The Rio Ica valley, Peru Herm, the Channel Islands 4. Approaches to investigating settlement sites Sampling strategies and techniques 5. Examples of fieldwork strategies and sampling applications Saar, Bahrain Kaupang, Norway Crossiecrown, Orkney 6. Integration: Sampling and methods combinations 7. Conclusions Essential texts References Appendices 1. Basic physical and geo-chemical methods of analysis 2. Sampling for soil/sediment micromorphological analysis 3. Making soil/sediment thin sections: from the field to finished slide using the Brot grinding system, with Tonko Rajkovača and Julie Boreham