CLST 129 Study Guide - Final Guide: Marxist Archaeology, Urban Archaeology, Elgin Marbles
6 Sep 2016
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The environment and its influence on human life. Latitude, attitude, landforms determines climate, which determines vegetation, which determines animal life, which determines human diet. Climate seen from sea cores, ice cores, and tree rings. Study plant and animal remains since they are affected by climate. Study the way we interacted with the environment. Water covers most of earth, so look at sediments on the ocean floor. Look at the shells of foraminifera and study the fluctuations in the ratio of the stable oxygen isotopes 18 and 16 in calcium carbonate of the shell. Higher content of o 18 = typical of glacial periods. Ice cores and study of the oxygen isotopic composition: higher oxygen 18, higher temperature difference and stronger winds. Carbon and methane = higher in ice cores in periods of global warming. Thickness of rings depends on climate (temperature, soil moisture) and other factors (dense and light forests) Short term variations and sudden climate shocks are visible.
