How do archaeologists find out about the past? This module explores the 'forensic' role of bio-archaeology (plants and animals) and geo-archaeology (soils and sediments) archaeology in reconstructing the changing environment of the past, and how humans have transformed and coped with this environment. To do this we have to understand the environment today and how we use this information to interpret ancient remains. It also is important to understand how sites are formed and material preserved. We will consider the exploitation of soils, plants and other animals to produce food, materials, labour over time. Finally we will explore the methods of directly examining human remains in the past. 

Aims

• To provide a broad understanding of the application of the biological and earth sciences to the archaeological investigation of the past.  
• To recognise the essentially multidisciplinary nature of successful archaeological investigation
• To become familiar with laboratory techniques, such as the recording, analysis and interpretation of data
• To explore the different presentation styles employed in communicating archaeological information
• To work together in teams to achieve a series of tasks.

• a broad knowledge of the techniques and the range of evidence used in environmental, economic and social reconstruction.
• an appreciation of the complex relationship between humans and the ‘natural world’ (soil, sediments, plants and animals).
• a broad understanding of changes in the human/environment relationship over time
• an understanding of site formation processes and preservation biases
• developed skills in linking diverse strands of evidence and in relating individual studies to much wider patterns
• experience in the communication of primary archaeological data to different audiences
• experience in working in small groups to attain specific outcomes in a limited period of time.eriod of time.

The course consists of weekly lectures accompanied by practicals. METHODS OF TEACHING: 11 lectures. Five 3-hour laboratory classes.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT: Class Test (50%), Laboratory notebook (50%), 100% Coursework.

The class test will consist of an hour long test of short answer questions which relate to all parts of the course, both lectures and practical classes.  You can be tested on any part of the taught course and also on any supplementary readings or other research you are asked to do and may include general questions on referencing, bibliographies and plagiarism.

LECTURE AND PRACTICAL OUTLINE

Lecture 1

This lecture will introduce the course and discuss what is meant by environmental and economic archaeology.  What do we study and how?

Practical 1 From the present to the past – reconstructing human populations?   ‘Scientific’ write up.

Lecture 2  Who were they?

The discovery of human skeletal or soft tissue remains can be the most immediate link to the past.  This lecture is an introduction to what we can find out about our ancestors from there remains using traditional methods – skeletal analysis, age and sexing information, the examination of soft tissues and briefly considers the some of the new scientific methods such as stable isotopes.

Lecture 3 Environmental evidence and how sites are formed

This lecture will describe the human environment and different types of environmental evidence available.  What are they?  Where can we find them? What do they tell us? The different types of evidence will be briefly introduced. Reconstructing past environments – on a large and a small scale.  The techniques of climate reconstruction on a large scale are considered and the most common methods described.

Environmental histories. The human occupation of Britain.

Lecture 4 -The human-environment relationship. Where did they live? 

The way in which an archaeological site is formed is considered.  There will be a brief introduction to soils and sediments.  Natural and human constructed sites will be described and we shall consider the methods available to understand them. The effects of taphonomy - differential preservation, recovery methods, quantification and fragmentation – will be considered.  The environmental archaeology of homes; floors, walls and roofs will be considered.

Practical 2 Reconstructing environments - Pollen diagrams.  Powerpoint presentation.

Lecture 5What did they eat?

Through environmental evidence we can examine the choices that people make about which foods to eat.  In any environment there is a range of food stuff, what is the evidence for various foods eaten?  We will look at direct and indirect sources of evidence. Why were these foods chosen? Is there a difference between food and diet? 

Practical Reconstructing diets and environments -   Marine molluscan data.  Poster presentation.

 Lecture 6 From Gathering/Hunting to Farming

This lecture considers the evidence we have for the way that landscapes, plants and animals were used by gatherer/hunters.  What species did they exploit, how did they collect and use them?  The introduction of agriculture is one of the fundamental changes that have occurred since the last Ice Age.  What evidence do we have for these changes and can we see the transition to farming reflected in the species of plant and animals used?  How did agricultural practices change the natural environment of Britain? 

Bibliography - Core Texts:

K. Butzer (1982). Archaeology as Human Ecology: Method and Theory for a Contextual Approach. Cambridge University Press.  CC81.B8

Claassen, C. 1998 Shells.  Cambridge University Press: Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology CC79.5.A5.C5

Davis, S.J.M, 1987 The Archaeology of Animals CC79.5.A5

Dincauze, D. (2000). Environmental Archaeology: Principles and Practice. Cambridge University Press. CC81.D4

Evans, J. (1981). An Introduction to Environmental Archaeology. Cornell University Press: Ithaca. CC81.E9

Evans, J. & O’Connor, T. (1999). Environmental Archaeology: Principles and Methods. Sutton Publishing: London. CC81.E9

Reitz, E., Newsom, L.& Scudder, S. (1996). Case Studies in Environmental Archaeology. Plenum: New York CC81.C2

Shackley, M.  (1981). Environmental Archaeology. George Allen & Unwin: London. CC81.S4

Stevens, C. and Wilkinson, K. (2003) Environmental Archaeology, Approaches. Tempus. CC81.W4

Useful journals

Available on line; Journal of Archaeological Science; Nature; New Scientist, Environmental Archaeology.

Websites

Association for Environmental Archaeology;  http://www.envarch.net/

Environmental Archaeology Bibliography(EAB) http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/eab/

http://www.envarch.net/links/web-links.html 

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/under archaeology; publications: Centre for Archaeology Guidelines

NERC WEBSITE - http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/Migration.htm, http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/Food_Diet.htm