Geoarchaeology : the earth-science approach to archaeological interpretation / George (Rip) Rapp and Christopher L. Hill.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rapp, George Robert, 1930-

Contributor:

Hill, Christopher L., 1959-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Archaeology--Methodology.

Archaeology.

Archaeological geology.

Physical Description:

xv, 339 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

New Haven : Yale University Press, [2006]

Summary:

This is an indispensable book for all professionals and students interested in the field of geoarchaeology, including those with limited earth-science experience. Framing geologic concepts within an archaeological context, the authors demonstrate how geologic methods can be used to interpret archaeological records and the human past. This second edition builds on the success and innovation of the first edition and includes updates, new concepts and examples, an enhanced bibliography, and many new illustrations. The second edition begins by considering the history and theory of geoarchaeology. Rapp and Hill then move to discussions of soils and environmental interpretations; initial context and site formation; methods of discovery and spatial analyses; estimating time; paleoenvironments, landscapes, and the human past; identifying, analyzing, and sourcing raw materials; and construction, destruction, and conservation of sites and materials.

Contents:

1 Theory and History 1

The Scope of Geoarchaeology 1

Archaeology and the Earth Sciences 4

Foundational Phase: Before 1900 5

Collaborative Phase: 1900-1950 10

Integrative Phase: After 1950 16

Changing the Guard 20

2 Sediments, Soils, and Environmental Interpretations 25

Sediments 25

Weathering 26

Transportation 27

Postdepositional Changes 28

Archaeological Implications 28

Classification of Sedimentation Products 29

Clastic Deposits 29

Gravel 32

Sand 33

Mud 34

Chemical Deposition 35

Calcareous Precipitates 36

Noncalcareous Precipitates 36

Organic Matter 37

Soils and Buried Soils 38

The Soil Profile 39

Soil Types 41

Entisols 41

Vertisols 41

Inceptisols 41

Mollisols 41

Alfisols 42

Ultisols 42

Spodosols 42

Aridosols 42

Histosols 42

Paleosols and Buried Soils 43

Inferring Environments from Physical and Chemical Parameters 45

Color 45

Cementation and Induration 47

Texture 47

Structure 53

Composition 54

Boundaries 58

Micromorphology 59

3 Initial Context and Site Formation 60

The Creation of the Archaeological Record 60

Stages of Site Formation 62

Initial Landscapes and Original Occupation 62

Sedimentary Contexts 63

Desert Depositional Systems 64

The Effects of Wind 64

The Effects of Moisture 65

Desert System Site Formation 66

Alluvial Depositional Systems: Flowing Water 67

Depositional Contexts 68

Site Formation in Alluvial Settings 75

Lakes and Associated Basin Settings 78

Basin Deposits 78

Site Formation in Basin Settings 80

Cave and Rock Shelter Depositional Systems 81

Limestone Caves 81

Sandstone Caves and Rock Shelters 85

Igneous Rock Caves 85

Site Formation in Caves 85

The Glacial System 86

Coastal and Marine Depositional Settings 90

Coastal Processes and Site Formation 91

Coastal Landscape Context 95

Postdepositional Processes 98

Mass Wasting 99

Cryoturbation 99

Bioturbation 100

4 Methods of Discovery and Spatial Analyses 103

Landform Sediment Assemblages 109

Settlement Patterns 109

Remote Sensing 110

Geophysical Prospecting 111

Magnetometry and Magnetic Properties of Soils and Sediments 113

Electrical Resistivity 115

Electromagnetic Conductivity 116

Ground Penetrating Radar 116

Seismic Profiling 117

Magnetic Analysis 118

Aerial Photography 118

Satellite and Airborne Remote Sensing 120

Dowsing 121

Geochemical Prospecting and Analysis 122

Core Drilling 125

Locating Water Resources 129

Geographic Information Systems 129

The Complexities of Scale 130

5 Estimating Time 132

Climate Change and Time 133

Artifacts and Dating 134

Stratigraphy 135

Rhythmites (Varves) 136

Paleosols in Loess and Alluvium 139

Tephrochronology 142

Dating Using Animal and Plant Fossils 143

Paleontology 143

Dendrochronology 144

Radiometric Dating Methods 144

Potassium-Argon and Argon-Argon Dating 144

Uranium-Series Dating 146

Radiocarbon Dating 147

Other Dating Methods 153

Fission-Track Dating 153

Paleomagnetic and Archaeomagnetic Dating 153

Electron Spin Resonance and Luminescence Dating 156

Temperature-Affected Dating 160

Amino Acid Racemization and Epimerization 160

Hydration (Obsidian) 160

Dating Techniques Based on Chemical Accumulation 162

Chemical Analysis 162

Dating Exposed Surfaces 163

Patination and Desert Varnish 163

Cosmogenic Nuclides 163

6 Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions: Landscapes and the Human Past 165

Environmental and Landscape Change 165

Inferring Environmental Change 166

Ecology and Landscape Change 167

Terrestrial (Non-marine) Geoecologic Data from Lake Records 168

Plant (Botanical) Indicators 169

Microfossils 169

Pollen 169

Phytoliths 172

Diatoms 174

Macrofossils 175

Animal Indicators 176

Invertebrates 176

Ostracods 176

Mollusks 178

Insects 179

Vertebrates 180

Mammal Fossil Remains 180

Bird Fossil Remains 181

Reptile and Amphibian Fossil Remains 182

Fish Fossil Remains 182

Other Ecologic Accumulations 183

Pack-Rat Middens 183

Peat 183

Geochemical Indicators 183

Environmental Change and Archaeological Explanations 186

Human Habitats and Geoecology 186

Tectonics, Climates, Landscapes, and the Human Past 188

Microclimates 191

Human Interaction with Environment and Its Effects on Climate 192

7 Raw Materials and Resources 195

Minerals 196

Chert and Chalcedony 196

Semiprecious Stones 197

Other Archaeologically Important Minerals 199

Metals and Ores 202

Rocks 207

Shells 210

Clays 211

Building Materials 213

Building Stone 214

Burnt Brick 215

Mortar 215

Other Materials 216

Pigments 217

Abrasives 218

Rock and Mineral Recovery 218

Water 219

8 Sourcing (Provenance) 222

Geologic Deposits 224

Materials Used in Sourcing 225

Obsidian 225

Sourcing Other Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks 226

Chert 227

Marble 228

Clay 229

Temper 229

Amber 230

Bitumen 230

Soft Stone, Other Rocks, and Semiprecious Minerals 230

Native Copper 231

Complex Copper Minerals 232

Tin 232

Lead, Silver, and Gold 234

Sourcing Methods 235

Trace-Element Analyses 235

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis 236

X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry 237

Isotope Analysis/Mass Spectrometry 237

DNA 238

Mineral Magnetism 238

Other Analytical Methods 238

Petrographic Analysis 238

Statistics and Data Analysis 242

9 Construction, Destruction, Archaeological Resource Preservation, and Conservation 244

Geotechnology 244

Construction 245

Dams 245

Canals 246

Fields and Raised Fields 247

Roads 248

Excavation (Mines and Quarries) 248

Natural Burial and Site Formation 249

Rock Properties and Weathering 250

Destruction 250

Weathering 251

Pollution 252

Water 254

Erosion and Subsidence in Archaeology 256

Erosion 256

Land Subsidence 256

Geologic "Catastrophes" and the Human Past 257

Earthquakes and Seismic Disturbance 257

Floods and Flood Legends 262

Volcanoes 263

Site Preservation 265

Site Preservation Problems 265

Reservoirs 267

Hilltops or Slopes 268

Seismicity 268

Site Stabilization 268

Earth Burial 269

Archaeological/Cultural Resource Management 270

Resource Management 270

Conservation 271

Materials Preservation 271

Corrosion 271

The Future 273

The Future of Geoarchaeology within Archaeology 273.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 291-318) and indexes.

ISBN:

0300109660

OCLC:

62127740

Publisher Number:

9780300109665

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description