Session: #239

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
5. Climate Change and Socioenvironmental Perspectives
Session format:
Regular session

Title & Content

Title:
A Look beneath the Surface: Micro-archaeological and Geoarchaeological Approaches to the Study of Occupation Surfaces
Content:
Occupation areas, surfaces, and floors are archaeological features able to provide behavioural and cultural information on past activities, human practices, and technological choices. Similar information has been conventionally gathered from artefacts in such locations until recently. Regardless of time periods, their identification and characterisation are at the base for subsequent study and interpretation of the related archaeological context and spaces.
The variety of surfaces and floors types, and the complexity of traces embedded in their sediment constituents, require analytical approaches that can change the scale of observation beyond the visible record. Invisible traces of (and on) surfaces can significantly contribute to questions regarding past human activities, use of space, construction techniques and raw materials, as well as maintenance and cleaning practices that may be linked to broader socio-economic and cultural developments. Therefore, micro-archaeological and geoarchaeological approaches are necessary to understand the formation, use, degradation, and post-depositional alteration of surfaces and associated deposits. The understanding of the spatial distribution of artefacts in revealing similar information in such contexts can offer a much important complementarity when it comes to the interpretations of such floors and surfaces. Moreover, as surfaces and floors are the products of intentional choices and human behaviour, the results of these analyses can contribute to the debate on materiality and material culture in archaeological contexts.
We invite papers on the study of occupation surfaces using geoarchaeological and/or micro-archaeological methods, including but not limited to soil micromorphology, geochemistry, micro-botanical analysis and spatial distribution analyses. The aim is to bring together scholars working on occupation surfaces ranging from the Palaeolithic to Medieval period stimulating discussion on the study of surfaces combining interdisciplinary methodologies and how inferences about their archaeological significance can be made. In this way, leading to a discourse of re-integration of multidisciplinary approaches to the study of occupation surfaces.
Keywords:
floor, sediments as material culture, geoarchaeology, micro-archaeology, houses, spatial analysis
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:

Organisers

Main organiser:
Nebu George (United Kingdom) 1
Co-organisers:
Carlos Santiago Marrerro (Spain) 2
Mara Schumacher (United Kingdom) 3
Laura Tomé (Spain) 4
Affiliations:
1. Bangor University
2. Universitat Pompeu Fabra
3. Newcastle University
4. University of La Laguna