Alluvial Geoarchaeology Floodplain Archaeology and Environmental Change [Paperback]

A comprehensive technical manual aimed at archaeologists, physical geographers, geologists and environmental scientists.Bringing together information on the evolution and exploitation of floodplain and river landscapes, this text draws on examples from Britain, Europe, North America and Australasia, An important theme is the interaction between climatic and cultural forces and the transformation of riverine environments.Bringing together information on the evolution and exploitation of floodplain and river landscapes, this text draws on examples from Britain, Europe, North America and Australasia, An important theme is the interaction between climatic and cultural forces and the transformation of riverine environments.This comprehensive technical manual is designed to give archaeologists the necessary background knowledge in environmental science required to excavate and analyze archaeological sites by rivers and on floodplains. Bringing together information on the evolution and exploitation of floodplain and river landscapes, this text draws on examples from Britain, Europe, North America and Australasia. An important theme is the interaction between climatic and cultural forces and the transformation of riverine environments.Introduction and the example of the Nile; Part I. Principles: 1. Floodplain evolution; 2. Alluvial environments over time; 3. Interpreting floodplain sediments and soils; 4. Floodplain ecology, archaeobotany and archaeozoology; Part II. Application: 5. Artifacts from floodplains and rivers; 6. The rise and fall of forested floodplains in North West Europe; 7. Buried sites; 8. Managed floodplains; 9. The cultural archaeology of floodplains; 10. People, floodplains and environmental change; Appendices: 1. River flow and sediment transport; 2. Flood frequency analysis; 3. Documentary evidence and wetland perceptions; References; Subject index. ...an excelleny source...A.G. Brown's carefully structured, and well-organized and illustrated vollóN