Site Abandonment Research Articles

2600-1800 BCE Caral

<p>The Late Archaic Period of North Central Coast Peru witnessed increased El Niño events that transferred flood sediment from coastal valleys into ocean currents forming large barrier beach ridges. As a result, river drainage was impeded, bay infilling and coastal marshes appeared and sediment deposits covered coastal agricultural lands compromising their productivity. Many sites within the Supe Valley, with its ceremonial center at Caral, were based upon economic trade: marine resources from coastal sites exchanged with agricultural products from valley interior sites. Ongoing geomorphic processes compromising the valley economic base are one possible reason for valley site abandonment past 1600 BCE and indicate that dynamic landscape changes are vital research topics necessary to interpret the collapse of Late Archaic Period sites.</p><p>El Periodo Arcaico Tardío en la costa centro norte del Perú experimentó un incremento en los eventos de El Niño los cuales trasladaron sedimentos desde los valles de la costa hacia el Océano Pacífico; posteriormente, corrientes marinas movilizaron estos sedimentos y formaron grandes crestas y barreras de playa. Como resultado de este proceso, se impidió el drenaje de los ríos en la costa, las bahías existentes fueron colmatadas de sedimentos, y se dio la formación de ciénagas y pantanos costeros. Así mismo, sedimentos aluviales cubrieron las tierras agrícolas costeras comprometiendo así su productividad. Muchos asentamientos dentro del Valle de Supe y su centro ceremonial en Caral, estaban basados en el comercio económico: intercambio de recursos marinos entre los sitios costeros y los centros de producción agrícola en los valles interiores. Una de las posibles causas del abandono del sitio en el Valle de Caral después del 1600 AEC, es los procesos geomorfológicos que operaron en la zona y que afectaron directamente la base económica de los asentamientos en los valles; ello indica que los cambios en la dinámica del paisaje son un tema de investigación vital para la interpretación del colapso de los sitios arqueológicos Arcaicos Tardíos.</p>

The archaeology of deforestation in south coastal Turkey

The Rough Cilicia Archaeological Survey Project investigates landscape transformation as a component to its regional survey of ancient Rough Cilicia (south coastal Turkey opposite Cyprus). Rough Cilicia was celebrated during antiquity for pristine cedar forests that stood between 1500 and 1800 m in altitude along the slopes of the Taurus Mountains. Today along the front range of the Taurus Mountains this forest is completely denuded or otherwise replanted with recent growth in the past 80 years. We employ paleoenvironmental analysis of relic cedar forests in the Taurus Mountains to construct a timeline of anthropogenic disturbances associated with population growth over time and thereby assess the sustainability of ancient forestry practices. To obtain these data, the team recovers pollen and carbon samples from geomorphologic trenches excavated in the cedar zone, tree ring data from dendrochronological survey of the existing forest, and archaeological data from remains of ancient highland settlements. Preliminary results indicate that current perspectives about the timing of deforestation in this region are flawed and that the initial deforestation coincided with regional site abandonment and population decline at the end of antiquity.

Archeoseismicity and environmental crises at the Sialk Mounds, Central Iranian Plateau, since the Early Neolithic

During the long-lasting cultural sequences of the Shurābeh and Sialk archeological mounds (6200–550 BC) the inhabitants encountered numerous diversified crises along a narrow fertile passageway at the edge of the Central Iranian Plateau Great Desert. Some of the threats may be attributed to earthquakes, drastic climatic changes, and man-made environmental deterioration, which possibly led to the settlement withdrawing at different stages toward a more suitable location. Our study identified the occurrence of a large-magnitude earthquake around 3800 BC along the Kāshān fault, which is well-documented by various lines of circumstantial evidence, including: (i) numerous contemporaneous smashed skeletons and artifacts underneath collapsed walls and ceiling debris in several different areas; (ii) tilted and collapsed walls; (iii) nearly N–S oriented fallen large storage jars; and (iv) nearly vertical deep ground fractures cutting walls and floors of the Sialk III5 South Mound settlement. Archeological data also shows additional stratigraphic discontinuities and damages that may be attributed to earthquakes. However, damage features in limited exposed trenches are less conclusive and require additional careful excavations. Apparent ancient paleo-architectural innovative attempts to enhance the coherency/elasticity of the structures and minimize earthquake damage to buildings were also noted, suggesting the indigenous earthquake hazard mitigation endeavor. There seems to be a correlation between some site abandonment dates and possible drastic regional draught/cooling events. The natural and anthropogenic impacts addressed in this study constituted major threats to the sensitive archeological settlements at the fringe of the desert and the vicinity of the Kāshān active fault since antiquity.

Initiation of microtopography in re‐vegetated cutover peatlands: evolution of plant species composition

AbstractQuestionsHow has plant species composition changed following initiation of microstructures in re‐vegetated cutover peatlands? How many years are required for plant species composition of re‐vegetated cutover peatlands to resemble natural boreal bogs?LocationNewly formedSphagnumcarpets on restored, cutover peatlands (inCanada) or re‐vegetated spontaneously after site abandonment (inEstonia) and on undisturbed natural bogs nearby.MethodsPlant frequencies (point intercept method) and abundances (vegetation quadrats) were assessed along linear transects. At each assessment point, moss surface height was measured relative to a local reference point (lowest point on a given transect) to associate frequencies or abundances to a position in the gradient of microtopography.PCAs (separately forCanada andEstonia) were conducted to follow evolution of plant species frequency in the gradient of microtopography in re‐vegetated sites and similarity with those of natural peatlands. InCanada, regressions were also performed to estimate relationships between moss surface height and vascular plant cover (ericaceous shrubs andCyperaceae) as well as time required for vascular plant cover to become similar to that of natural bogs.ResultsSpecies composition was still dissimilar to microstructures of natural bogs 10 yr post‐restoration and 70 yr post‐abandonment; however, some trends were observed in re‐vegetated peatlands. The greatest differences were for ericaceous species (two‐ to three‐fold less abundant in re‐vegetated peatlands), dominantCyperaceae, and relative proportions ofSphagnum. In addition, hummock formation was closely related to dense (&gt;50%) ericaceous cover.ConclusionsAll species tolerant to abiotic conditions prevailing in re‐vegetated sites contributed to initiation of microtopography, although some species were found in atypical positions within the gradient of microtopography. Random events and establishment priority seemed initially to be more important in temporal evolution of microstructures than plant interactions. However, ecological restoration could effectively reduced time needed for species occurrences to approach those in natural peatlands, relative to time required for recovery of spontaneously re‐vegetated peat extraction sites.

Stratigraphic and spatial variability in shell middens: microfacies identification at the ethnohistoric site Tunel VII (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina)

Based on ethnographic accounts from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, functional areas have been identified within Fueginian shell middens. In this context, archaeological microfacies acquire a functional meaning when the microscopic record is compared to information gathered from ethnology, macroscopic observations made during excavation, and experimental modern analogues. All these lines of evidence were combined for the first time at Tunel VII, an eighteenth/nineteenth century shell midden occupied repeatedly by Yamana people, the last hunter–gatherer–fisher groups of the Beagle Channel. The sampling strategy involved three sets of samples: (1) two stratigraphical columns taken from the hut “entrance” and from a portion of the shell midden (i.e., the surrounding refuse shell ring), (2) thin sections from five hearths representing successive phases of frequentation of the hut, and (3) experimental burnt valves of Mytilus edulis, the main malacological component of the site. Comparison of microfacies from groups (1) and (2) provided microscopic indicators to distinguish between shell dumping areas and occupation surfaces. Comparison of microfacies within columns from group (1) allowed recognizing periods of site abandonment and periods of more intense/longer site frequentation. The experimental samples from M. edulis served as a reference to characterize the five central hearths in terms of maximum burning temperatures reached. Different burning structures were correlated to the season of hut frequentation and to their location (and function) within different portions of the hut. The intra-site micromorphological comparison strategy within a well-documented ethnohistorical context provides valuable indicators for the identification of functional areas in archaeological contexts when ethnographical information is not available.

Morphometric analyses of Batissa violacea shells from Emo (OAC), Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACT Archaeological investigations of human predation pressures on shellfish usually rely on measurements of complete shell specimens. However, most archaeological shell assemblages consist predominantly of broken shells, limiting measurable sample sizes, and thus potentially biasing results in cases where shell fragmentation is biased towards particular size classes (due to shell size‐fragility correspondences). This paper presents a recent application of morphometric analyses on the Batissa violacea assemblage from Emo, an early ceramic site from the Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea. Our method enabled most shell valves, fragmented or not, to be accurately and comparably measured for size. The results reveal a close match between the commencement of occupation and maximum shell sizes in a sequence of occupational phases, each separated by many decades to hundreds of years of site abandonment. While each occupational phase begins with peak mean shell sizes, the later peaks never again attain the mean shell size of the initial phase. As each phase progresses, shell sizes diminish until abandonment, and then the same pattern starts again with the next phase. Identical trends were obtained from two separate excavation squares. We interpret these results to indicate that while people may have abandoned the site of Emo between the occupational phases, they did not abandon the region, continuing to exploit local shellfish beds, albeit less frequently than during the site's occupation. These results highlight the ability of local (site‐specific) archaeological shell data to shed light on regional demographic and occupational trends.

Trail Marking and Abandonment of Depleted Feeding Sites by the Caterpillars of Eutachyptera psidii (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

The caterpillars of Eutachytptera psidii (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) mark trails between their nest and distant feeding sites with a trail pheromone secreted from the ventral surfaces of their last abdominal segments. The threshold sensitivity to artificial trails prepared from an hexane extract of the pheromone was 0.75 × 10−3 caterpillar-equivalents per cm of trail. In tests of trail-specificity involving four other social species, the caterpillars responded only to trails prepared from a pheromone extract of the closely related genus Gloveria. Tests were conducted to determine the efficiency with which colonies abandon exhausted feeding sites in favor of new food finds. On their first forays after their food sources were experimentally moved from established feeding sites to new sites, 67.5 ± 3.6% of all the evening’s activity occurred on pathways leading to the previously established sites. During their next two forays, 86.3 ± 3.7% and 92.1 ± 2.0% of all activity occurred on pathways leading to the new sites. Efficient abandonment of exhausted feeding sites is attributed to the persistence of the trail pheromone, differential marking of new and old pathways and to the caterpillar’s ability to discern trail strength and to choose stronger over weaker trails at choice points.

Effects of management on double-crested cormorant nesting colony fidelity

The increase of double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus; hereafter, cormorant) populations during the last 2 decades has impacted many stakeholder groups. The negative effects of nesting cormorants on trees and other vegetation have motivated private organizations and government agencies to manage nesting colonies and reduce their impacts to private property and public resources. Management-induced reproductive failure has been shown to influence cormorant inter-annual nesting colony fidelity, but not complete abandonment from a nesting colony site. We attached very high frequency (VHF) transmitters and Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitters to nesting cormorants to monitor their movement response on a managed site (Young Island, VT [YI]) and an unmanaged site (Four Brothers Islands, NY [FB]). Additionally, we monitored these sites to determine the influence of management activities on subsequent-year colonization. On YI, management consisted of egg-oiling all cormorant nests (some nests had been oiled in previous years) and culling approximately 20% of adults. Annual dispersal rates did not differ between managed and unmanaged sites, but a nesting period interaction occurred with greater dispersal on the managed site following the incubation period. After 4 years of both egg oiling and culling, cormorant nesting on YI declined to zero. Simultaneously, cormorant numbers increased on the nearby unmanaged FB. We propose either the cumulative effect of partial or complete reproductive failure (8 yr) or simply the inclusion of adult culling (4 yr) caused the abandonment. From a colony-specific management perspective, the rapid decline was beneficial to the goal of restoring the vegetative community on YI. The effects of adult culling at nesting colonies, prior-year reproductive failure caused by egg oiling, or the combination of these factors may be required for complete and rapid nesting site abandonment. The use of culling adult breeders reduced nesting and likely limits the cost and logistics of control and allows more rapid initiation of mitigation measures and island habitat restoration. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Initiation of microtopography in revegetated cutover peatlands

Question: How many years are required for a gradient of microtopography to be initiated in revegetated cutover peatlands and become similar to natural bogs? Location: Newly formed Sphagnum carpets on cutover peatlands that revegetated spontaneously after site abandonment (in Estonia), or following active restoration (in Canada) and on undisturbed natural bogs nearby. Methods: Moss surface height was measured along linear transects above a local reference level (the lowest point for a given transect). Heights of at least 20 cm were associated with hummocks. Frequency distributions of surface height and principal component analyses (separately for Canada and Estonia) were conducted to follow the evolution of microtopography in revegetated sites and their similarity with those of natural peatlands. In Canada, regressions were also performed to estimate the time required for the microtopography in revegetated cutover peatlands to become similar to that found in natural bogs. Results: Only 10–30 yr were needed for microstructures comparable to those in natural bogs to develop on restored peatlands where Sphagnum diaspores have been reintroduced. However, this process may take more than a century in cutover peatlands left to revegetate spontaneously. Conclusions: In cutover peatlands with spontaneous revegetation, hummock–hollow formation starts on bare peat which lacks both plant propagules and viable seed banks, and the initiation of microstructures is probably more akin to the process that occurs naturally. Nonetheless, hummock–hollow microtopography resembling that found in natural bogs without pools appeared, in all of the examined cutover peatlands, over periods that are short in terms of peatland development time-scales. Active peatland restoration could effectively reduce the time required for initiation of microtopography by about 70 yr.

Posthatching Parental Care in Salamanders Revealed by Infrared Video Surveillance

Posthatching parental care is known in amphibians for frogs and caecilians but, thus far, has never been reported for salamanders. Here, we describe the parental behavior of a female Northwest Italian Cave Salamander, Speleomantes strinatii, from egg deposition to nest site abandonment. The female was kept in seminatural conditions and filmed in complete darkness by an infrared video camera. In November 2007, the female laid nine eggs in a small depression of the terrarium floor, displaced the clutch with hind limbs, and showed antipredator behaviors toward a conspecific female and an intruding Roof Rat (Rattus rattus). During egg brooding, the female remained in contact with the clutch for about 98% of the time. In September 2008, two young hatched and shared the nesting site for six weeks with the female, which attended the nesting site for 87% of the time. Hatchlings repeatedly climbed over the female's body, lying on her for hours. The female walked out of the nesting site with a young on its back twice. These prolonged skin contacts between parent and offspring should be considered as the first certain case of young attendance in salamanders. This behavior may be related to increased survival of hatchlings during their first weeks of life, when young are particularly vulnerable to predation, skin infection, and dehydration.

The Construction, Use, and Abandonment of Angel Site Mound A Tracing the History of a Middle Mississippian Town Through Its Earthworks

Mound A is the largest platform mound at the Angel site (12VG1), a Middle Mississippian town along the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana, and consists of an upper and lower platform joined by an offset conical peak. Solid-earth cores, geophysical data, and 14C ages indicate that mound construction began at 900 B.P. by stacking 10–15 cm-thick turf blocks two meters high at the junction of the upper-lower platform and that by 890 B.P. the upper platform was built to nearly its full 8m height. The dates from Mound A are among the earliest recorded from the site, which implies that earthwork construction coincided with the initial occupation of the site and was among the first construction tasks undertaken. Cultural features associated with a structure partly buried under the conical offset on the upper platform of Mound A yielded 14C ages of 750–520 B.P., which show that the upper platform surface was probably used throughout occupation. As also occurred on Mound F (the only other platform mound investigated at the site), the Mound A structure was destroyed and covered with a fresh layer of fill just before site abandonment. This final filling episode to cap the mounds may have been part of a "ceremonial closing" of the site. The youngest dates from the structures buried on Mounds A and F, as well as others across the site, suggest that the Angel site was essentially abandoned by 500 B.P., which also corresponds with the abandonment of Mississippian sites throughout the region.

The Yucatan peninsula: biogeographical history 65 million years in the making

The fourth biennial meeting of the International Biogeography Society (IBS) in Merida, Yucatan in January 2009 represented a double opportunity for Mexican biologists. First, it fostered the integration of the large community of Mexican biogeographers with the activities of the IBS. Second, the meeting allowed us to welcome a large number of delegates from distant parts of the world who were able to visit what has been considered an obligate destination for nature lovers and cultural tourists alike: the Yucatan peninsula. As Edward O. Wilson pointed out, besides economic power every country has two additional and important types of wealth: cultural and natural. Cultural richness is a naturally embedded component of the Mexican way of life.

Analysis of Site Formation Processes at the Rex Rodgers Bison Bonebed

A reanalysis of bison remains from the Rex Rodgers site (41BI42 Area 2) indicates that the previous interpretation of the site as a well-preserved single event kill of a small herd of bison is in need of revision. A taphonomic analysis of approximately 330 identifiable bison bones from the site suggests that, although the animals were likely killed by prehistoric hunters approximately 11,500 cal B.P. as previously believed, extensive post-depositional alterations to the bonebed make many of the previous interpretations about human actions at the site problematic. The Rex Rodgers material probably reflects the end products of at least one, and possibly two, bison kills. A tooth eruption study suggests the bison died sometime between late fall and late winter. Taphonomic analyses identified culturally derived surface modifications to some limb and axial elements that show car-casses were partially skinned, butchered, and disarticulated prior to abandonment of the site. Following site abandonment, fluvial transport, severely altered the composition, condition, and structure of the bonebed. Unfortunately, the result is that much of the evidence for the prehistoric use of the bison at the site has been largely blurred to the modern observer.

Colony Site Dynamics and Habitat Use in Atlantic Coast Seabirds

Colony Site Dynamics and Habitat Use in Atlantic Coast Seabirds

Patterns and factors in early-stage vegetation recovery at abandoned plantation clearcut sites in Oita, Japan: possible indicators for evaluating vegetation status

The abandonment of sites after clearcutting plantations is increasing rapidly in Japan. Although a few stand-level studies have been conducted, a broad-scale study is needed to understand the general tendency of vegetation recovery and to obtain information for the management of such extensively distributed abandoned clearcut sites. This study is a province-level study that aims to interpret the patterns and factors in early-stage vegetation recovery at abandoned plantation clearcut sites. We also discuss the potential indicators that may determine whether a certain site recovers towards evergreen broad-leaved forest consisting of Castanopsis cuspidata and Quercus glauca or towards deciduous broad-leaved forest comprising Q. serrata and Q. acutissima. A cluster analysis revealed that five types of vegetation (evergreen trees, evergreen trees–deciduous pioneer shrubs, pioneer species, deciduous trees, and deciduous shrubs) were observed from an early stage of succession. The first two vegetation types were considered to recover successfully to the target vegetation of evergreen broad-leaved forest, but the remaining three vegetation types did not show any tendency to recover to the target vegetations. According to the results of the detrended correspondence analysis, a smaller size of the abandoned site with adjacent evergreen broad-leaved forest and a longer time after clearcutting were identified as factors that enhance the invasion of evergreen tree species; these factors are also useful to predict the future successional tendency. In conjunction with these factors, the existence of regeneration sources (i.e., stumps) that allow sprouting appeared to be an important indicator for predicting the early-stage vegetation recovery.

The 2nd century AD earthquake in central Italy: archaeoseismological data and seismotectonic implications

The 2nd century AD earthquake in central Italy is only known by an epigraph that mentions restorations to a damaged weighing-house at the ancient locality of Pagus Interpromium. The available seismic catalogues report this event with the conventional date of 101 AD, a magnitude M aw of 6.3, and an epicentral location at the village of San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, in the province of Pescara. In order to improve the knowledge of the damage pattern, we gathered all the archaeological data collected during modern excavations at sites located in the area, which were presumably struck by the earthquake. This information is mainly represented by (1) stratigraphic units due to the sudden collapse of buildings over still frequented floors; (2) stratigraphic units demonstrating restoration or re-building of edifices; (3) stratigraphic units formed as the result of the abandonment of sites or of their lack of frequentation for decades or centuries. Only stratigraphic evidence consistent with an earthquake occurrence during the 2nd century AD has been considered. The most recent archaeological material found in a collapsed unit is a coin of Antoninus Pius, dated at 147–148 AD. This may represent a post quem date very close to the occurrence of the earthquake. The gathered information, plus the stratigraphic data that excluded the earthquake occurrence at some sites, has allowed us to roughly delineate an area of possible damage, including the Sulmona Plain and surrounding areas. Comparisons between the possible 2nd century damage distribution and (i) the damage patterns of more recent historical events that have struck the investigated area, (ii) the distribution of virtual intensities obtained by simulating an earthquake having an epicenter in the Sulmona Plain and applying an intensity attenuation relationship and (iii) a shaking scenario obtained by modelling the activation of the major active fault of the Sulmona Plain area (the Mt. Morrone fault) have revealed consistency between the ancient earthquake and the activation of this fault. Since no other historical events can be attributed to this active fault, we conclude that the time that has elapsed since the last fault activation should be in the order of 1,850 years, i.e. a time span that is very close to the recurrence interval of Apennine seismogenic sources. Moreover, considering the fault length, the causative source may be responsible for earthquakes with M up to 6.6–6.7. The comparison between the presumed 2nd century damage and the shaking scenario suggests that the magnitude mentioned is consistent with the presumed effects of the ancient earthquake. Finally, considering that Sulmona (the most important town in the region investigated) is located in the middle of the Mt. Morrone fault hanging wall, we consider it as the probable epicentral area. Therefore, to summarise the information on the 2nd century AD earthquake, we can conclude that (i) it occurred shortly after 147–148 AD; (ii) a magnitude M w 6.6–6.7 can be attributed to it and (iii) the probable macroseismic epicentral area was Sulmona.

PREDICTING SITE ABANDONMENT AT WETHERILL MESA

The abandonment of sites throughout 800 years of prehistoric occupation of Wetherill Mesa, Colorado is predicted by relating the length of time sites were inhabited to the availability of arable land under conditions of minor climatic fluctuations. The prehistoric climate is derived from dendroclimatological studies. The predictions of site abandonment are obtained through the use of a computer simulation. Results indicate that many abandonments may have been due to decreased crop yields caused by local variation in rainfall and length of the growing season.

Economic determinants of biodiversity change over a 400‐year period in the Scottish uplands

Summary Economic forces are recognized as an important driving factor behind current biodiversity losses. This study investigates whether such factors have been important in determining one measure of biodiversity change over the ‘long run’– in our case, 400 years – for upland sites in Scotland. A combination of palaeoecological, historical and economic methods is used to construct and then analyse a database of factors contributing to changes in plant diversity over time for 11 upland sites. Using an instrumental variables panel model, we find livestock prices, our proxy for grazing pressure, to be a statistically significant determinant of diversity change, with higher grazing pressures resulting in lower diversity values on average, although site abandonment is also found to result in a fall in plant diversity. Technological change, such as the introduction of new animal breeds, was not found to be a statistically significant determinant. Using later period data (post 1860) on livestock numbers at the parish (local) level, we were able to confirm the main result noted above (3) in terms of the effects of higher grazing pressures on plant diversity. Synthesis and applications. This study shows how data from very different disciplines can be combined to address questions relevant to contemporary conservation and understanding. This novel, interdisciplinary approach provides new insights into the role of economic factors as a driver of biodiversity loss in the uplands. Biodiversity levels have varied considerably over 400 years, partly as a function of land management, suggesting that establishing baselines or ‘natural’ target levels for biodiversity is likely to be problematic. Changes in livestock grazing pressures brought about by changes in prices had statistically significant effects on estimated plant diversity, as did land abandonment. This suggests that long‐term management of upland areas for the conservation of diversity should focus on grazing pressures as a key policy attribute. Another policy implication is that drastic cuts in grazing pressures – such as might occur under current reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy – can have adverse biodiversity consequences.

Refining Earliest Settlement in Remote Oceania: Renewed Archaeological Investigation at Unai Bapot, Saipan

ABSTRACT Renewed archaeological investigation at Unai Bapot in Saipan refines the documentation of chronological change during the earliest period of human occupation of the Mariana Islands. First site use was in the range of 1600 to 1420 BC, and site abandonment occurred shortly after AD 1670. In more than 2 m of continuous stratigraphy, abundant examples of pottery occur in stratigraphic order in seven distinct occupation layers with minor internal variations. Other artifacts include shell and coral pendants, polished chert and shell adzes, various types of flaked stones and shells, fishhooks, and other objects. Faunal materials are almost entirely shellfish remains, and changes in shellfish taxa reflect a drop in sea level and associated habitat transformation in the first millennium BC. The new data support a refined substantive evaluation of the role of early Marianas settlement as the first human colonization in Remote Oceania.

Volcanoes and human history

The study of volcanic hazards leads inevitably to questions of how past cultures have lived in volcanically active regions of the world. Here we summarize linkages between volcanological, archaeological and anthropological studies of historic and prehistoric volcanic eruptions, with the goal of evaluating the impact of past eruptions on human populations to better prepare for future events. We use examples from papers collected in this volume to illustrate ways in which volcanological studies aid archaeological investigations by providing basic stratigraphic markers and information about the nature and timing of specific volcanic events. We then turn to archaeological perspectives, which provide physical evidence of the direct impacts of volcanic eruptions, such as site abandonment and human migration, as well as indirect impacts on local cultures as reflected in human artifacts. Finally we review anthropological studies of societal responses to past and recent volcanic eruptions. We pay particular attention to both the psychological impact of catastrophic events and records of these impacts encoded within oral traditions. Taken together these studies record drastic short-term eruption impacts but adaptation to volcanic activity over the longer term, largely through strategies of adaptive land use.