Soils in Archaeology: Landscape Evolution and Human Occupation.

Soils in Archaeology: Landscape Evolution and Human Occupation. This book represents the proceedings of a symposium sponsored by theSociety for American Archaeology The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is the largest organization of professional archaeologists of the Americas in the world. The Society was founded in 1934 and today has over 7000 members. (SAA (Systems Application Architecture) A set of interfaces designed to cross all IBM platforms from PC to mainframe. Introduced by IBM in 1987, SAA includes the Common User Access (CUA), the Common Programming Interface for Communications (CPI-C) and Common Communications ) at an annual meeting in Phoenixin 1988. The symposium's theme was entitled 'Earth sciences inarchaeology' to complement the general theme of the 1988 FryxellAward given to D.M. Hopkins. This theme evolved to 'Soils,landscape evolution and human occupation', more or less the titleof this book.In general, this relatively inexpensive book packs in a lot ofinformation, largely based around case histories, in a well presentedand readable form. To the uninitiated or non-specialist, it is alsounderstandable and useful. Moreover, the glossary of various terms is anhelpful plus-point for everyone. It covers general definitions of soilhorizons, descriptions of selected diagnostic horizons and soil ordersin soil taxonomy, as well as some main micromorphological terms. My onlycriticism of the production of the book concerns the unnecessaryinclusion of several tables of results which are more or lessmeaningless to all but the specialists producing the results.Although soil chemistry and the study of human-influenced soils areprobably the best known applications of soil science in archaeology, thecontributors to this volume wished to cover a broader spectrum ofsoil-science applications. These included pedology pedologyA branch of soil science focusing on the formation, morphology, and classification of soils as bodies within the natural landscape. Pedology seeks to understand how the properties and distribution patterns of soils worldwide (collectively called the pedosphere) have or the study of soilgenesis and morphology, as well as soil geomorphology geomorphology,study of the origin and evolution of the earth's landforms, both on the continents and within the ocean basins. It is concerned with the internal geologic processes of the earth's crust, such as tectonic activity and volcanism that constructs new or the study ofthe relationship between soils and landscapes. Indeed, Holliday suggeststhat soils considered as intimate components of the archaeologicallandscape is a less common and less well understood approach than isdesirable amongst archaeologists. On the other hand, I would argue thatthe increasing emphasis on the archaeology of context is creating agreater awareness of the detail that soil science can provide toarchaeological and environmental interpretations of any period, anywherein the world.The eight chapters or essays discuss the use of soils forreconstructing past landscapes and landscape evolution, in estimatingthe age of surfaces and depositional episodes, and for providingphysical and chemical indicators of human occupation. These essays fallinto two main groups. The first group focuses on the use of soilgeomorphology in archaeology, reconstructing landscapes and sitesettings, and the use of soils as age indicators. These could beregarded as typical of the more 'traditional' approach.The second set of four essays deals with the archaeologicalsignificance of particular characteristics of soils using soilgeomorphology and soil chemistry. These may be seen as more interesting,and perhaps areas where soil science can expand its usefulness toarchaeological problems.Ferring's paper discusses the archaeological implications ofsoils and soil geomorphology in alluvial settings for archaeologicalresearch. He sets out a pedo-sedimentological framework forreconstructing alluviated landscapes from an archaeological perspectiveand for interpreting archaeological materials found in such settings.This is set out with much useful information on terrace and flood-plainsoils, and alluvial sedimentation, despite his lament that there islittle pedogenic literature on soils in alluvial settings which are ofobvious archaeological significance. This betrays a rather blinkered blink��ered?adj.Subjective and limited, as in viewpoint or perception: "The characters have a blinkered view and, misinterpreting what they see, sometimes take totally inexpedient action" perspective, as there has been and continues to be considerable interestin alluviated terraces and flood-plain archaeology elsewhere in theworld. For example in Britain, there are conference proceedings producedby Fulford & Nichols (1992) and Needham & Macklin (1992), bothof which contain a host of different papers from archaeological,geo-archaeological and palaeoenvironmental perspectives on alluviatedsites and landscapes which are based on rescue and research work overthe past two to three decades.Mandel's article complements Ferring's work by presenting alengthy account of two case studies of alluviated river basins inKansas. He demonstrates how to use soil evidence to reconstruct complexalluvial histories, which when combined with other palaeoenvironmentaldata can be used to predict the distribution of archaeological sites ofdifferent ages. Most archaeologists probably do not need convincing ofthis potential value to archaeology, but the lack of any applied testexamples will mean that many remain to be convinced.Bettis' article builds on chapters 1 and 2 by presenting a modelfor identifying alluvium al��lu��vi��um?n. pl. al��lu��vi��ums or al��lu��vi��aSediment deposited by flowing water, as in a riverbed, flood plain, or delta. Also called alluvion. of different ages based on pedogenic andweathering criteria. He goes on to show how geomorphological ge��o��mor��phol��o��gy?n.The study of the evolution and configuration of landforms.geo��mor researchcan be applied to the prediction, evaluation and interpretation ofarchaeological site distribution in alluvial settings. Certainlydevelopment work on the evaluation of alluviated landscapes is crucialto formulating archaeological response strategies, and is a crucialissue for every contract rescue archaeological unit dealing withalluviated landscapes. But the application of new methodology as well asmore traditional methods of mapping, augering, trenching and radiocarbondating are key here. In particular, the development of more effectiveground-penetrating geophysical methods of prospection are essential.Chapter 3 by Holliday discusses some fundamental geoarchaeologicalconsiderations in the interpretation of buried soils and associatedlandscapes which are then illustrated by three case studies in Texas andIowa. It is very much an outline paper which addresses the relationshipof soils to studies of landscape evolution and human occupation. Inparticular, he stresses how site-formation processes can profoundlyinfluence the nature of the archaeological record The archaeological record is a term used in archaeology to denote all archaeological evidence, including the physical remains of past human activities which archaeologists seek out and record in an attempt to analyze and reconstruct the past. , and that these mustbe recognized for adequate understanding of the pedologic and culturalrecords. There is little new here as Butzer (1982) convinced mostarchaeologists of this some time ago.The second set of essays began to pick up a more interesting pace.Although Goldberg is preaching to the one of the converted and he haseloquently done so before on several occasions (Goldberg 1983; Courty etal. 1989), his paper illustrates the wide applicability of themicromorphological approach to most archaeological and landscapeproblems. All of the above case studies in chapters 1-4 would have beenimmeasurably im��meas��ur��a��ble?adj.1. Impossible to measure. See Synonyms at incalculable.2. Vast; limitless.im��meas improved by using this practical research tool. This isbecause micromorphology's major advantage is its ability to pick uptextural and chemical variations within any soil/sediment sample from acombination of pedogenic, geologic and/or anthropogenic an��thro��po��gen��ic?adj.1. Of or relating to anthropogenesis.2. Caused by humans: anthropogenic degradation of the environment. events,spatially and temporally superimposed upon one another.The next three papers continue the focus on archaeological problems.Gladfelter presents the investigation of an infilled alluvial basin inthe Sinai associated with Upper Palaeolithic sites in order to provide abetter understanding of prehistoric subsistence strategies. Stein givesan excellent review of the processes that introduce and alter organicmatter in any context. It should be made mandatory reading for all fieldarchaeologists! Lastly, Sandor explores the interaction betweenagriculture and the physical environment based on two case studies ofterrace agriculture systems in New Mexico New Mexico,state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). and Peru. For anyarchaeologist interested in the effects of agriculture on a naturalenvironmental system, this is a very informative account. Moreover, itundoubtedly points in the direction which research into agriculturalterrace systems in Europe (i.e. Bintliff 1992) should perhaps proceed.In short, I greet his book with mixed views. It covers a wide rangeof approaches and points in useful directions for future research bygeomorphologists, soil scientists and archaeologists alike who areinterested in the deciphering the development of past human landscapes.This book is useful both as a textbook and as a sourcebook for ideas,and more than satisfies its editor and authors' original aim. But,aside from Goldberg and Stein's contributions, the assembledpapers, perhaps unwittingly, give the impression that few advances inthe application of geomorphological and pedological methods toarchaeological problems are taking place elsewhere in the world, whichis certainly not the case.C.A.I. FRENCH Department of Archaeology University of CambridgeReferencesBINTLIFF, J. 1992. Erosion in the Mediterranean lands: areconsideration of pattern, process and methodology, in M. Bell & J.Boardman (ed.), Past and present soil erosion: 125-31. Oxford: Oxbow.Monograph 22.BUTZER, K.W. 1982. Archaeology as human ecology Human ecologyThe study of how the distributions and numbers of humans are determined by interactions with conspecific individuals, with members of other species, and with the abiotic environment. , Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP) is a publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534, and one of the two privileged presses (the other being Oxford University Press). .COURTY, M.-A., P. GOLDBERG & R. MACPHAIL. 1989. Soils andmicromorphology in archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.FULFORD, M. & E. NICHOLS (ed.). 1992. Developing landscapes oflowland Britain: the archaeology of the British gravels: a review.London: Society of Antiquaries Society of Antiquaries can refer to: Society of Antiquaries of London Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland . Occasional paper 14.GOLDBERG, P. 1983. Applications of micromorphology in archaeology, inP. Bullock & C.P. Murphy (ed.), Soil micromorphology: 139-50.Berkhamsted: AB Academic.NEEDHAM, S. & M. MACKLIN (ed.). 1992. Alluvial archaeology inBritain. Oxford: Oxbow. Monograph 27.