Evaluating the Environmental Kuznets Curves through Archaeological Data: A Conceptual and Theoretical Framework

Abstract

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) is a model of the relationship between environmental degradation and economic development. The model postulates that indicators of environmental degradation tend to be positively correlated with economic growth up to a transition point, after which the society starts deploying measures to reverse the environmental degradation leading to its decrease. This paper will introduce the EKC model and discuss the potential contributions archaeology can make to ongoing debates on the EKC. It will present several archaeological proxies that can be used, thus setting out a theoretical conceptual framework. The case study of Palmyra, a desert oasis city, and its hinterland will be used to demonstrate the potential and challenges involved. Establishing the validity of the EKC model is critical since it determines socio-economic policies. We argue that archaeological data has a strong potential to inform such debates.