Geoarchaeology as an aid to understanding human activity in the changing environment of coastal zones
This work presents new methodological approaches and perspectives on the relationship between past humans and maritime environments by focusing specifically on the geochemical traces left by the users and inhabitants of coastlines. In order to do so it proposes four novel scientific techniques presented in four case-study papers, together with best practice protocols that archaeologists can use to conduct similar studies on other sites. These methods were designed to allow for convenient data collection, fast sample processing, sound statistical analysis, and meaningful data interpretations; all this in order to better understand past human activity in coastal areas. The thesis addresses various themes related to the character of human activity, its chronology, spatial distribution, zonation, and linkage to the neighboring waterbody. It tackles issues linked with geochemical signal preservation in different post-depositional contexts, and discusses various modes of soil sampling, extraction and elemental analysis (eg. colorimetric method, portable XRF or XRF core scanning), as well as problems related to geo-statistical analysis of complex, spatially distributed, multivariable datasets. In terms of its geographical
MikoĆajczyk, Ćukasz
Archaeological geography ; Maritime anthropology
Geoarchaeology as an aid to understanding human activity in the changing environment of coastal zones. This work presents new methodological approaches and perspectives on the relationship between past humans and maritime environments by focusing specifically on the geochemical traces left by the users and inhabitants of coastlines. In order to do so it proposes four novel scientific techniques presented in four case-study papers, together with best practice protocols that archaeologists can use to conduct similar studies on other sites. These methods were designed to allow for convenient data collection, fast sample processing, sound statistical analysis, and meaningful data interpretations; all this in order to better understand past human activity in coastal areas. The thesis addresses various themes related to the character of human activity, its chronology, spatial distribution, zonation, and linkage to the neighboring waterbody. It tackles issues linked with geochemical signal preservation in different post-depositional contexts, and discusses various modes of soil sampling, extraction and elemental analysis (eg. colorimetric method, portable XRF or XRF core scanning), as well as problems related to geo-statistical analysis of complex, spatially distributed, multivariable datasets. In terms of its geographical
aid human_activity change environment coastal zone work present_new methodological_approach perspectives relationship past_human maritime environment focus_specifically geochemical trace leave users inhabitant coastline order propose novel scientific technique present four_case study paper together best_practice protocol archaeologist use conduct similar study site method design allow convenient data_collection fast sample processing sound statistical_analysis meaningful data interpretation order_well past_human activity coastal area address various_theme related character human_activity chronology spatial_distribution linkage neighbor tackle issue link geochemical signal preservation different post_depositional context discuss_various mode soil sampling extraction elemental_analysis method portable xrf xrf core scanning well problem_relate geo statistical_analysis complex spatially distribute datasets term geographical