Preface: Special Issue “Geoarchaeology and past human–environment interactions”

Hans Von Suchodoletz,Stefanie Berg,Lukas Werther,Eileen Eckmeier,Christoph Zielhofer

doi:10.5194/egqsj-68-237-2020

Abstract

Preface: Special Issue “Geoarchaeology and past human–environment interactions”

Highlights

Geoarchaeology is an approach rather than a technique, so any technique or method can be included as it addresses the understanding of past human activities in a landscape and their environmental context (Cannell, 2012)
In addition to the development and integration of innovative methods and the further development of existing geoarchaeological concepts, the application of comprehensive and systematic geoarchaeological approaches in the daily practice of archaeological excavations and monument conservation is a current challenge that must be addressed in the coming years in order to prevent further research gaps and an irreversible loss of potential knowledge
According to the broad-ranging interdisciplinary audience of the meeting, the seven articles in this Special Issue report about current geoarchaeological research projects, the application of innovative methods and approaches in geoarchaeological contexts, and issues related to the daily practice of monument management, mirroring the broad range of current developments and challenges in geoarchaeology

Summary

Introduction

Geoarchaeology is an approach rather than a technique, so any technique or method can be included as it addresses the understanding of past human activities in a landscape and their environmental context (Cannell, 2012). The discipline strongly evolved during the last years, and different methods such as micromorphology, palynology, geochemistry, isotopic studies, geographical information systems and geophysics were integrated, leading to very multidisciplinary approaches in which the discontinuities and limitations of one proxy can be overcome by the evaluation of another (Ghilardi and Desruelles, 2009; Cannell, 2012; Engel and Brückner, 2014; Zielhofer et al, 2018; Schneider et al, Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the Deutsche Quartärvereinigung (DEUQUA) e.V. H. von Suchodoletz et al.: Geoarchaeology and past human–environment interactions

Results

Conclusion