AR246 Study Guide - Environmental Archaeology, Sedimentology, Human Ecology
16 Apr 2014
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Document Summary
Environmental arch the study of ecology of past human populations. Interactions btwn human populations and environment: physical environment landforms/features/climate, biological populations animal & plant. Geomorphology study of shape/origin of landscape features. Goal: reconstruct interactions between humans and past physical environment. Palynology study of plant & human ecologies\ Pollen related materials recovered from sedimentary cores recontructs regional plant communities. Pollen analysis provides: proxy for past climate temperature and rainfall. Subsistence strategy of past people huntergather, domestication. Diet trace elements and stable isotope analysis of bone. Goal: traditional archaeology reconstruct the culture of past populations what is culture: -rules governing behaviour. How do they achieve goal: 1) begin identifying as many behaviours as possible. 1st must reconstruct past behaviours based on preserved remains of those behaviours. Artefacts objects made/modified by human activity (can be removed from matrix. Features (installations) objects made by humans but cannot be removed from matrix. Ecofacts natural objects that are unmodified by humans.
