Geoarchäologie - ein archäologisches Desiderat oder "There could be no real archaeology without Geology"

Abstract

Geoarchaeology provides the answer to archaeological questions using geological and pedological methods and knowledge. Starting from c o m m o n roots in the 19 th Century, geology and archaeology have become increasingly separate. With the discovery of the archaeological landscape some 25 years ago more intensive contacts developed between geoscientists and archaeologists, but this has not changed the informal character of their Cooperation. In contrast, the present boom in the use of the term "Geoarchaeology" current in the geosciences has had little influence on archaeological research. However, knowledge of landscapegenesis, pedology and geomorphology is essential to the main task of archaeology, namely the recognition and evaluation of archaeological features. This knowledge should be as basic to archaeology as the dating of pottery. Therefore archaeology must look back to its roots and begin to train its own "Geoarchaeologists" as "there could be no real archaeology without geology".