Study Sheet 5
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Chapter 6:
Introduction to Environmental Archaeology
● Environmental archaeology integrates the study of humans within ecological
systems.
● Sites are analyzed within their natural settings, considering geomorphological
(earth-shaping) and biological processes.
● The discipline emphasizes that environments are dynamic, changing over time
and space.
● Understanding historical human-environment interactions provides insights into
adapting to modern climate challenges.
Environmental Reconstruction
● Purpose: To reconstruct the past environment, determining how communities
interacted with their surroundings.
● First Step: Establish chronology and broad climatic conditions.
● Finer Analysis: Examine vegetation (pollen, plant remains) and fauna (insects,
snails, rodents) for localized data.
Human Impact on the Environment
● Humans have historically altered ecosystems by:
○ Modifying vegetation.
○ Exploiting resources.
○ Polluting and altering watercourses.
● These activities offer insights into human resilience and adaptability.
Global Scale Investigations
1. Water and Ice Evidence:
○ Ocean sediments reveal environmental changes via microfossils like
foraminifera.
○ Deep-sea cores:
■ Provide millions of years of climatic records.
■ Analyze organic molecules (e.g., fatty lipids) for temperature shifts.
○ Ice cores:
■ Offer isotopic data on past temperatures and precipitation patterns.
■ Examples: Vostok, EPICA, and Greenland Ice cores reveal abrupt
and extreme temperature swings during glaciations.
2. Ancient Winds:
○ Studied through isotopic analysis.
○ Past wind vigor and hurricane patterns are inferred from isotopic traces in
stalagmites and sediment cores.
○ Wind patterns influence historical human activity (e.g., Viking sea routes,
Polynesian migrations).
Ancient Coastlines
● Climate affects land availability through changing sea levels:
○ Examples:
■ Submerged Neolithic sites like Er Lannic.
■ Raised beaches due to isostatic uplift or tectonic activity.
○ Tectonic and volcanic events further modify coastlines.
● Sea-level studies reveal:
○ Land bridges, like Beringia (linking Siberia and Alaska), enabled human
migration.
○ Coastal changes affected ecosystems and human settlement patterns.
Techniques for Studying Submerged Landscapes
● Echo-Sounding & Seismic Reflection Profiling:
○ Map submerged coastal plains.
○ Identify ancient shorelines.
● Example: Franchthi Cave, Greece, offers insights into prehistoric coastal
exploitation.
Other Evidence of Climate and Sea-Level Changes
● Raised Beaches:
○ Contain remnants like shells and bones, marking past coastlines.
● Coral Reefs:
○ Act as indicators of historical sea levels and marine conditions.
○ Example: Huon Peninsula (New Guinea) shows sequential reef
development tied to sea-level fluctuations.
Quiz: Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Environmental archaeology views the human species as:
○ a. Separate from natural systems.
○ b. A part of ecological systems.
○ c. Predominantly controlling nature.
○ d. A constant unaffected by changes.
2. The study of microfauna in environmental archaeology helps determine:
○ a. Chronology of historical events.
○ b. Specific local conditions.
○ c. The influence of tectonic movements.
○ d. The history of human migrations.
3. Foraminifera are:
○ a. Fossilized plants.
○ b. Tiny marine organisms.
○ c. Layers in raised beaches.
○ d. Markers of tectonic shifts.
4. Ice core studies have revealed that:
○ a. The past 10,000 years have been highly volatile.
○ b. Ancient climates were stable.
○ c. Temperature changes could occur abruptly.
○ d. Glacial periods were gradual.
5. The term "Beringia" refers to:
○ a. A submerged coral reef.
○ b. A land bridge between Alaska and Asia.
○ c. A raised beach in Alaska.
○ d. A tectonic uplift site.
https://quizlet.com/155891624/chapter-5-ant-flash-cards/
https://quizlet.com/110381225/archaeology-topic-6-environmentalarchaeology-flash-cards/
https://quizlet.com/213817370/archaeology-quiz-2-flash-cards/
https://quizlet.com/229935106/chapter-6-what-was-the-environment-andwhat-did-they-eat-flash-cards/
T/F: cahokia located near modern day st louis was a principle settlement of
one of the most complex societies that ever existed in prehistoric north
america
T/F: the drowned mesolithic landscape is known as dark doggerland (T)