Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology

Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology provides an
invaluable overview of geoarchaeology and how it can be used
effectively in the study of archaeological sites and contexts.
Taking a pragmatic and functional approach, this book
presents:

• • a fundamental, broad-based perspective of the essentials of
    modern geoarchaeology in order to demonstrate the breadth of the
    approaches and the depth of the problems that it can tackle.

• the rapid advances made in the area in recent years, but also
  gives the reader a firm grasp of conventional approaches.

• covers traditional topics with the emphasis on landscapes, as
  well as anthropogenic site formation processes and their
  investigation.

• provides guidelines for the presentation of field and
  laboratory methods and the reporting of geoarchaeological
  results.

• essential reading for archaeology undergraduate and graduate
  students, practicing archaeologists and geoscientists who need to
  understand and apply geoarchaeological methodologies.

Artwork from the book is available to instructors online at:
www.blackwellpublishing.com/goldberg

"This is one of the best textbooks that I have read in
years. I enjoyed reviewing it, and found it well-written and
thorough in its coverage of the traditional earth science aspects
of geoarchaeology. The non-traditional aspects were intriguing and
equally thorough... I predict that this book will become the
textbook of choice for geoarchaeology classes for several
years."

Geomorphology 101 (2008) 740-743

Auteur

Paul Goldberg is a geologist and Professor in the Department
of Archaeology, Boston University. He has carried out
geoarchaeological research ranging from Quaternary landscapes and
associated archaeological sites in the Near East, California, and
Texas, to cave sediments in China, South Africa, Europe, and the
USA.

Richard I. Macphail is a Senior Research Fellow
atUniversity College London, investigating archaeological
sediments, soils, and occupation deposits across Europe and the
USA. He was a researcher for English Heritage for 20 years, and is
currently a Research Fellow at Boston University and was
professor invité at Université de Tours.

Résumé
Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology provides an invaluable overview of geoarchaeology and how it can be used effectively in the study of archaeological sites and contexts. Taking a pragmatic and functional approach, this book presents:

• a fundamental, broad-based perspective of the essentials of modern geoarchaeology in order to demonstrate the breadth of the approaches and the depth of the problems that it can tackle.

• the rapid advances made in the area in recent years, but also gives the reader a firm grasp of conventional approaches.

• covers traditional topics with the emphasis on landscapes, as well as anthropogenic site formation processes and their investigation.

• provides guidelines for the presentation of field and laboratory methods and the reporting of geoarchaeological results.

• essential reading for archaeology undergraduate and graduate students, practicing archaeologists and geoscientists who need to understand and apply geoarchaeological methodologies.

Artwork from the book is available to instructors online at: www.blackwellpublishing.com/goldberg

This is one of the best textbooks that I have read in years. I enjoyed reviewing it, and found it well-written and thorough in its coverage of the traditional earth science aspects of geoarchaeology. The non-traditional aspects were intriguing and equally thorough... I predict that this book will become the textbook of choice for geoarchaeology classes for several years.

Geomorphology 101 (2008) 740743

Contenu

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Part I Traditional Geoarchaeology.

1. Sediments.

2. Stratigraphy.

3. Soils.

4. Hydrological Systems I: Slopes and Slope Deposits.

5. Hydrological Systems II: rivers, Lakes, and Wetland.

6. Aeolian settings and Geoarchaeological Environments.

7. Coasts.

8. Caves and Rockshelters.

Part II Nontraditional Geoarchaeological Approaches.

9. Human Impact on Landscape: Forest Clearance, Soil
   Modifications, and Cultivation.

10. Occupation Deposits I: Concepts and Aspects of Cultural
    Deposits.

11. Occupation Deposits II: Examples from the Near East, North
    America, and Europe.

12. Experimental Archaeology.

13. Human Materials.

14. Applications of Geoarchaeology to Forensic Science.

Part III Field and Laboratory Methods, Data, and
Reporting.

15. Field-based Methods.

16. Laboratory Techniques.

17. Reporting and Publishing.

18. Concluding Remarks and the Geoarchaeological Future.

Appendices.

References.

Index