Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology (eBook)

Paul Goldberg is a geologist and Professor in the Department of Archaeology, Boston University. He has carried out geoarchaeological research ranging from Quaternary landscapes and associated archaeological sites in the Near East, California, and Texas, to cave sediments in China, South Africa, Europe, and the USA. Richard I. Macphail is a Senior Research Fellow atUniversity College London, investigating archaeological sediments, soils, and occupation deposits across Europe and the USA. He was a researcher for English Heritage for 20 years, and is currently a Research Fellow at Boston University and was professor invité at Université de Tours.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Part I Traditional Geoarchaeology.

1. Sediments.

2. Stratigraphy.

3. Soils.

4. Hydrological Systems I: Slopes and Slope Deposits.

5. Hydrological Systems II: rivers, Lakes, and Wetland.

6. Aeolian settings and Geoarchaeological Environments.

7. Coasts.

8. Caves and Rockshelters.

Part II Nontraditional Geoarchaeological Approaches.

9. Human Impact on Landscape: Forest Clearance, Soil
Modifications, and Cultivation.

10. Occupation Deposits I: Concepts and Aspects of Cultural
Deposits.

11. Occupation Deposits II: Examples from the Near East, North
America, and Europe.

12. Experimental Archaeology.

13. Human Materials.

14. Applications of Geoarchaeology to Forensic Science.

Part III Field and Laboratory Methods, Data, and
Reporting.

15. Field-based Methods.

16. Laboratory Techniques.

17. Reporting and Publishing.

18. Concluding Remarks and the Geoarchaeological Future.

Appendices.

References.

Index

"The textbook "Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology"
deserves special consideration...with its scientific contents and
high standard printing art is a significant step in the development
of a new branch - ecological archaeology."

T. F. Urushadze, Annals of Agrarian Science, December
2012

"There is a new exceptionally good geoarchaeology text - it
is written for you. It tells you what a soil is, what a sediment
is, is easy to read well illustrated and designed for the field
archaeologist and not just the environmental and soil scientist. It
gives practical information and general information (and includes
lab methods etc) and in my opinion it isthe best textbook on the
subject going and is suitable for all archaeologists."

Dr Michael J Allen, Environmental Manager, Wessex Archaeology
and Reviews Editor, The Prehistoric Society

"The authors of this book do a fantastic job explaining complex
ideas, frequently using key sites to show how geoarchaeology was
critical in understanding the full story of a site's
archaeology."

Dirtbrothers.org, June 2006

"Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology gives a
thorough introduction to the discipline, allowing the reader to
gain a broad understanding of its possible applications ... A good
basis for undergraduate and masters students approaching
geoarchaelology."

Archaeological Review from Cambridge

"Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology provides a
comprehensive introduction to an increasingly important
sub-discipline of archaeology ... ideal as both a comprehensive
introduction to the subject and as a reference."

Canadian Journal of Archaeology

"This is an excellent textbook, and it will be a resource
for all archaeologists who want to integrate geoarchaeology into
their research."

Journal of Geology

"An invigorating and important book that offers new insights
... An excellent collection that aims to position the sociology
of work at the heart of the discipline." Geomorphology