GEO/ESC 343:

GEOARCHAEOLOGY

Cade 4 Site, Western Wisconsin



COURSE DESCRIPTION:
        A proseminar on the contribution of earth sciences to the interpretation of archaeological contexts. Emphasis is placed on the methods of geoarchaeology and the applications of selected earth science fields to archaeological problems. Prerequisites: one or more of the following - GEO/ESC 222, 323 or 426; ARC 205, 310 or 455.  Spring semester of odd-numbered years.



COURSE OBJECTIVES:
        a) To introduce students to the application of selected earth sciences to archaeological problems.
        b) To familiarize students with and engage them in discussion of the literature of geoarchaeology.
        c) To foster multidisciplinary work in archaeology and physical geography/ earth science.


 

READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Dean Wilder. 2007. Collected Readings in Geoarchaeology. Geography and Earth Science, University of WisconsinLa Crosse

 

Contents

 

Introduction

 

C. Renfrew, J.M. Wagstaff and J.B. Thornes. 1983. Geography, Archaeology and Environment. The Geographical Journal, 149 (3): 316-333.

 

J.K. Stein. 1993. Scale in Archaeology, Geosciences, and Geoarchaeology. In: J.K. Stein, and A.R. Linse (eds). Effects of Scale on Archaeological and Geoscientific Perspectives. Geological Society of America Special Paper 283: 1-10.

 

Readings in Geoarchaeology

 

B.G. Gladfelter. 1981. Developments and Directions in Geoarchaeology. Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory, 4: 343-364.

 

G. Huckleberry. 2000. Interdisciplinary and Specialized Geoarchaeology: A Post-Cold War Perspective. Geoarchaeology, 15 (6): 523-536.

 

Readings in Sedimentology

 

E.A. Bettis III. 2003. Patterns in Holocene Colluvium and Alluvial Fans Across the Prairie-Forest Transition in the Midcontinent USA. Geoarchaeology, 18 (7): 779-797.

 

J.C. Woodward and P. Goldberg. 2001. The Sedimentary Records in Mediterranean Rockshelters and Caves: Archives of Environmental Change. Geoarchaeology, 16 (4): 327-354.

 

Readings in Stratigraphy

 

J.K. Stein. 1990. Archaeological Stratigraphy. In: N.P. Lasca and J. Donahue (eds). Archaeological Geology of North America. Geological Society of America Centennial Special Volume 4: 513-523.

 

M.R. Waters. 2000. Alluvial Stratigraphy and Geoarchaeology in the American Southwest. Geoarchaeology, 15 (6): 537-557.

 

Readings in Geomorphology

 

D.A. Davidson. 1985. Geomorphology and Archaeology. In: G. Rapp Jr. And J.A. Gifford (eds). Archaeological Geology. Yale University Press, New Haven. P. 25-55.

 

E.A. Bettis III and E.R. Hajic. 1995. Landscape Development and the Location of Evidence of Archaic Cultures in the Upper Midwest. In: E.A. Bettis III (ed). Archaeological Geology of the Archaic Period in North America. Geological Society of America Special Paper 297: 87-113.

 

Readings in Pedology

 

V.T. Holliday. 1990. Pedology in Archaeology. In: N.P. Lasca and J. Donahue (eds). Archaeological Geology of North America. Geological Society of America Centennial Special Volume 4: 525-540.

 

J. Van Nest. 2002. The Good Earthworm How Natural Processes Preserve Upland Archaic Archaeological Sites of Western Illinois, USA. Geoarchaeology, 17 (1) 53-90.

 

Readings in Geophysical Methods

 

R.A. Dalan and B.W. Bevan. 2002. Geophysical Indicators of Culturally Emplaced Soils and Sediments. Geoarchaeology, 17 (8): 779-810.

 

R.A. Dalan and S.K. Banerjee. 1998. Solving Archaeological Problems Using Techniques of Soil Magnetism. Geoarchaeology, 13 (1): 3-36.

 

Readings in Provenance Studies

 

R.E. Hughes and R.L. Smith. 1993. Archaeology, Geology, and Chemistry in Obsidian Provenance Studies. In: J.K. Stein, and A.R. Linse (eds). Effects of Scale on Archaeological and Geoscientific Perspectives. Geological Society of America Special Paper 283: 79-91.

 

G.J. Borradaile and J.D. Stewart. 1998. Characterizing Stone Tools by Rock Magnetic Methods. Geoarchaeology, 13 (1): 73-91.

 

Readings in Dating Methods

 

G. Rapp Jr. and C.L. Hill.1998. Estimating Age in the Archaeological Record. Chapter 7 In: G. Rapp Jr. and C.L. Hill. Geoarchaeology. Yale University Press, New Haven. P. 153-174.

 

H.P. Schwarcz and W.J. Rink. 2001. Dating methods for Sediments of Caves and Rockshelters with Examples from the Mediterranean Region. Geoarchaeology, 16 (4): 355-371.

 

 

CONDUCTIVITY SURVET DATA

 

DATA FOR TUESDAY GROUP

·       MYRO8048 (This is the file to be edited in Excel).

 

DATA FOR THURSDAY GROUP

·       MP29048 (This is the file to be edited in Excel).

 


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