Applied geoarcheology

elective courses

Geoarcheology is a discipline which uses the experiences from other Earth’s sciences to reconstruct the living conditions of humans in the past.

The lecture covers the presentations of sedimentary environments (aeolian, fluvial, cave, glacial, slope) acting in different climate conditions in relations to their attractiveness on settlements and possibility of the artefacts preservation. In the meantime, the influence of physical, chemical and biological weathering on archaeological objects are presented.

Exercises in the field of applied geoarcheology present the practical use of knowledge and experience of Earth sciences to reconstruct the conditions in which man lived in historical times, preferences and restrictions on the location of settlements and the ability to preserve artifacts in various sedimentary environments.

The lecture of applied geoarchaeology presents the practical usage the experiences of such sciences like geomorphology, geology, sedimentology, mineralogy, geophysics, geochemistry, and pedology to reconstruct the living and managing conditions of human activity in the historical times. Particular sedimentary environments are going to be presented together with the processes involved and influencing the archaeological objects for better understanding the settlement preferences of the societies. That concerns e.g. the relief, slope inclination, soil and sediment types and the possibilities of artefacts preservation in the deposits of different origin. The methods used to reconstruct the conditions of human past livings are going to be presented with the analyses of archaeological sites use character, the period of their functioning and the landscape reconstruction together with its evolution relating to natural and anthropogenic reasons and climate change accompanying the humans.

Exercises in the applied geoarcheology present practical use of the experience of geomorphology, geology, sedymentology, mineralogy, geophysics, geochemistry and pedology in order to reconstruct the environment in which man lived and managed.

Map (topographical, geological, lidar) and aerial photographs will be analysed to identify areas / zones favouring settlements in historical times in various sedimentary environments, e.g. in the river valley, in coastal areas of lakes.

The selected examples will analyse the use of some methods (e.g. geochemical, phosphor) for reconstructing the environmental conditions in which humans lived in historical times, the use of archaeological sites and the time of their functioning, as well as the reconstruction of the landscape and its evolution due to natural and anthropogenic causes and climate changes accompanying people.

After completing the course, students follow the below

KNOWLEDGE

1. Knowledge of sedimentary environments and processes operating in them in terms of their settlement attractiveness;

2. Knowledge of sedimentary environments and processes that work in them in terms of the ability to preserve artifacts;

3. Knowledge of methods that can serve to restore the relationship between the natural environment and the human economy.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

1. The ability to recreate environmental conditions during the time of human existence on a given archaeological site;

2. The ability to identify the location of geological work, where it will be possible to obtain information about human activities and changes in the use of the area;

3. Ability to characterize the sediment in terms of its structural and textural features, and thus to restore the process responsible for the transport and accumulation of sediments found in the archaeological site and in its vicinity;

4. Ability to work on archaeological sites, do not interfere with archaeologists work

ATTITUDES

1. The student is prepared to work in archaeological sites;

2. Appreciates the importance of earth sciences in archaeological research.

One absence from classes is allowed. Retake exam will be based on the correct solution of the test. 51% correct answers to test questions from the messages presented during the lecture and passing all the exercises for 51% of the total points.

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