Environmental Archeology - Essay Example

Environmental Archeology Name Institution Date Environmental Archeology Introduction Environmental archeology is a field that seeks to define the relationship between the environment and the lives of the people in the past. Through the use of the environmental archeology concepts, it is possible to understand the climatic changes that took place in the past and how the people were able to deal with them. This is considering that the environmental changes require adaptation in order to survive. On the other hand, the study of environmental archeology also plays an important role in terms of creating an understanding as to why some of the species are no longer present today (Shackley, 2012). The environment has always been changing and therefore it has been influencing every step of life n earth. Understanding its concepts is thus important in terms of determining the nature of life in the past. Environmental archeology can be classified into three different groups which includes; archeobotany, zooarcheology and archeopedology. These groups involve the study of the plants, animals and soil condition. Through reconstruction of the past environment, it is possible to understand how the life conditions were in the past. The cultural changes can also be understood as environmental archeology has the ability to determine whether it was caused by the environment. The environmental issues have always been linked to the understanding of the past as it greatly influences the current activities and it determines how life will be in future. The paper thus discuses the concepts of environmental archeology in relation to its role inn terms of creating an understanding of the past. Discussion Environmental archeology can contribute to the better understanding of the past through the study of the evidence from water and ice. The environmental changes have an impact on the aquatic life and hence providing a source of evidence with regards to the past life. The organisms that live on the surface of the ocean usually sink when they die and hence forming sediments which can be dated back to thousands of years. Through the study of the environmental conditions, it is possible to determine the nature of life according to the sediments that have been formed. The sediments will provide important information regarding how the climate was at the time and hence create a better understanding of the past. According to Grant, (2008), the climatic information can be obtained through the study of lipids which makes it possible to understand the temperatures inn the past. The information regarding the temperature is important ads it determines the climatic conditions at the time. On the other hand, environmental archeology can provide important information regarding precipitation. This is through the study of the isotopes. The wind and temperature conditions can therefore be determined through environmental archeology. The wind conditions play an important role in terms of understanding the reason for the distribution of water and ice as it influence precipitation and rainfall. On the other hand, it is also important to note that the study of the wind creates an understanding of how people adapted to the wind conditions at the time. This is because the presence of wind influences the architecture as well as adaptation means. Environmental archeology also plays an important role in terms of understanding the ice age. This is through the study of the sediments which plays an important role in terms of determining the life conditions at the ice age. The study also gives important revelation to the future as it indicates that there could be another ice age in the next 15,000 years to come. Global warming is also an issue that has been attracting a lot of views at present. Global warming is as a result of environmental changes and it can be traced back to the past. Environmental archeology thus traces the events leading to global warming in terms of environmental change and hence impacting positively on the understanding of global warming. The El-Niño events also play an important role in the present day in terms of affecting the animal and aquatic life. Through the study of environmental archeology, it is possible to explain the cycle of El-Niño. This is considering that it is responsible for the movement of fish from one region to the other. The concepts of climate change can also be explained through the study of environmental archeology. Through the use of environmental archeology, it has been established that climate change dates back to 5,000 years ago (Robinson, 2013). The climate records can also be obtained through the study of records that are based on environmental archeology. This means that the vital information regarding the past climatic conditions can be obtained through the use of the environmental archeology concepts. The hurricanes have always led to devastating effects on the environment and the human life. However, it is important to note that the hurricanes have occurred in the past and it has impacted negatively on the environment. This information can be established through environmental archeology. This is because the study of record of stalagmite is obtained from the environmental archeology which explains the past events regarding the hurricanes. The life at the sea as well as the coastline is usually important in terms of archeology. This is considering that the sea has been in existence for long and it has always supported different species o life. Through environmental archeology, it is possible to know the different events that have occurred along the coastline as well as the sea. This information can be obtained through the study of the analysis of the sediments that provides important environmental information. The information provides an explanation of the events at the sea as well as the coastline. In some of the coastlines, evidence suggests that it has been reducing over time. This is from the evidence presented by the study of sediments. The environmental factors have played an important role in terms of shaping the coastal area and it has had some impacts on the aquatic lives suggested by the environmental archeology. The rises and fall pattern of the sea levels can also be determined through the study of the environmental archeology. The information presented by environmental archeology is therefore useful in the study of the ancient coastline and the life in the oceans (Mayle, 2012). The land surfaces long the coastline has also undergone some changes over a period of time. Some of the land surfaces have been submerged due to the environmental effects that have led to changes in the sea. The land surfaces that have been submerged can be traced through the use of the environmental archeology concepts. This can be achieved through studying the distribution of the shells. The lack of shell deposits in the earlier time which could be about 10,000 years ago is an indication that the area was once a land surface. The exploitation of the resources at the sea is also important in terms of determining the feeding habits around the coastline. This is important in terms of understanding the resources that were mainly exploited in the past along the coastline in terms of food. The feeding habits of the people and animals that lived along the coastline can therefore be determined (Middleton, 2012). The movement of the people along the coastline in terms of migration can also be established through the use of the environmental archeology. This is because the people moved from one area to the other whenever there were changes in the coastline. The past of the people who were living along the coast can thus be established through the study of the environmental archeology. Different activities have also taken place along the coastline over a past. The study of the coral reefs indicates the presence of such activities and the climate change. The environmental archeology is thus important in terms of providing information with regards to the coastal regions. The study of the landscape is important in terms of determining the activities and life in the past. Through the environmental archeology, it is possible to determine the impacts of climate change on the landscape and life in the areas. In the glaciated landscapes, the fossil records indicate that there was life in the glaciated areas in the past. The climate change information can also be obtained through the varves. The coding of climate can be established through the varves in the lakes. On the other hand, it is important to note that the activities that contributed to the climate change can also be established through the environmental archeology. The rivers play an important role in terms of shaping the landscape. The river has also been used in the past for the supply of water for domestic use and for irrigation. It is thus possible to determine the past practices of agriculture through the utilization of environmental archeology. According to Yu, (2012), the landscape features and the rivers also played an important role in terms of influencing civilization. It is important to note that settlements were mainly concentrated along the water points. Environmental archeology is thus useful in terms of determining the settlement pattern of the people in the past. This is due to the use of the landscape that was favorable to the people in terms of civilization. The cave sites also provide important information regarding the practices of the people in the past and it also provides information regarding climate change. This is because of the sediments that were always deposited in the caves. On the other hand, it is also important to note that the caves were also inhabited by the people in the past. Understanding the vegetation cover in the past plays an important role in terms of determining the how the people lived. This is because the vegetation cover in the past was useful in terms of influencing the food chain. The rings of the trees provides information regarding the growth rates of the tree at different times. This information is also useful in terms of determining the climate change issues. The growth pattern of the trees can determine the number of trees that were growing in the particular region. The environmental archeology is also useful in terms of dating the trees using their rings and hence providing past information of activities that were taking place at different times. Some of the plant components are also resistant to decomposition and hence the high preservation rate. The plant remains are also preserved in the form of rock vanishes which is important in terms of ensuring that analysis of the past. The plant species have also undergone change from time to time due to the environmental factors and climate change. However, the nature of the plants can be detected through their seeds and fruits. This is because the fruits and seeds always remains the same regardless of the changes that the species undergo. Environmental archeology is thus useful in terms of determining the past of the plants. The changes in the species can also be used for the purposes of determining the climate change issues that are associated with the changes in plant species (Olofsson, 2011). The animal environment is useful in terms of ensuring the survival of the animal. During the climate change, the environment of the animal always changes. This is means that the study of the animals can give useful information with regards to environment and climate change. However, the smaller animals can easily adapt to the environment incase of climate change as compared to the larger animals. This can be attributed to the distinction of some large animals like the dinosaurs. The use of fossils from the small animals plays an important role in terms of determining the environmental conditions at the time of the survival of the animal. Determining the seasons in which certain areas were occupied is also important in terms of obtaining the information regarding the past. The bones belonging to birds are useful in the process and it gives information with regards to life at the time. The bones of the birds in most cases reflect the environment in which it was found and its analysis is important in terms of providing information with regards to the area. Linking the animals to the environment is thus useful in terms of creating an understanding of the past environment. The local conditions like temperature and rainfall can also be obtained through the study of land mollusks (Shackley, 2012). This provides information regarding the past rainfall and temperature conditions. The knowledge of rainfall and temperature in the past can be used to determine the prevailing conditions. Environmental archeology is thus useful in terms of dealing with the fossils in order to determine the animal environment. The remains of large animals can also be used for the purposes of determining the human diet in the past. This is considering that the animals have mainly been used by humans and the carnivorous animals for food. The remains of the animals that were brought to a certain point by catastrophes or natural events play give useful information with regards to the past. The bones of the large animals may be impregnated by minerals which impacts positively on their preservation and hence the ability to obtain the past information. The past human environment can also be determined through the use of environmental archeology. This is considering that the past human habitat is an issue of concern to most historians and scientists. It is also important to note that the past environmental archeology can establish the influence that the humans had on the environment (Jin, 2010). On the other hand, it is important to note that human activities have contributed to climate change. The environmental archeology is important in terms o establishing the trends in terms of changes that have taken place with regard to human activities. The human activities that like living in caves and the uses of fire can also be determined through the use of environmental archeology. This is considering that the use of controlled fire by humans has been a subject of discussion among the historians. The land use by humans in the past is also important in terms of determining the human history. Environmental archeology has been instrumental in terms of determining the land use in the past. Environmental pollution has been taking place for times and it is influenced by the human activities. The pollution is mainly attributed to the human activities like farming which can be traced over a long period of time. Water pollution has been traced through the use of environment archeology concepts. The results indicate that some of the lakes in North America were reduced in size due to the environmental pollution resulting from soil erosion from the farms. This is an indication that humans started farming in the ancient times. Ploughing is an important activity during farming. The use of environmental archeology indicates that the ancient man was involved in plowing activities (Riehl, 2012). This is due to the presence of mollusks which were found buried on the surface. It indicates that the soil had been loosened through plowing and hence burying the mollusks. The manipulation of the woodland areas is also evident in the earlier times. This is through the collection of evidence from environmental archeology. The land management using the field system has also been established in some parts of Europe and South America. This evidence indicates that the land management practices were in place as early as 400 BC. It is thus evident that the environmental archeology has played an important role in terms of establishing the ancient practices. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that environmental archeology plays an important role in terms of establishing the past conditions. The climate change which has taken place over a long period of time and it has resulted to changes in the environment. The environmental changes have contributed to various past human activities. Some of the activities were for the purposes of adapting to the environment. It is also important to note that the past activities in the coastal regions can be established through the environmental archeology. The past environmental effects as well as the distribution of environment can be established through environmental archeology. Other practices also include the land use which influences agricultural practices. It is also evident that the sediments and caves plays an important role in terms of storing past information. Environmental archeology therefore contributes positively to the study of past events. References Grant, J. (2008). The archaeology coursebook: an introduction to themes, sites, methods and skills. Taylor & Francis US. Shackley, M. (2012). Introduction to Environmental Archaeology. In Environmental Archaeology (pp. 1-39). Springer US. Robinson, M. (2013). The relative abundance of Onthophagus species in British assemblages of dung beetles as evidence for Holocene climate change. Environmental Archaeology, 18(2), 132-142. Mayle, F. E. (2012). An improved methodology for the recovery of Zea mays and other large crop pollen, with implications for environmental archaeology in the Neotropics. The Holocene, 22(10), 1087-1096. Middleton, G. D. (2012). Nothing lasts forever: Environmental discourses on the collapse of past societies. Journal of Archaeological Research, 20(3), 257-307. Yu, Z. (2012). Multidisciplinary studies in environmental archaeology with particular reference to China: An introduction to the Special Issue. The Holocene, 22(6), 609-611. Olofsson, J. (2011). Integrating human dimensions of Arctic palaeoenvironmental science: SEAD–the strategic environmental archaeology database. Journal of Archaeological Science, 38(2), 345-351. Jin, A. (2010). Environmental archaeology on Longshan Culture (4500–4000 aBP) at Yuhuicun Site in Bengbu, Anhui Province. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 20(3), 455-468. Riehl, S. (2012). Variability in ancient Near Eastern environmental and agricultural development. Journal of Arid Environments, 86, 113-121. Shackley, M. (2012). Molluscs and Echinoderms. In Environmental Archaeology (pp. 345-381). Springer US. Read More

Environmental archeology also plays an important role in terms of understanding the ice age. This is through the study of the sediments which plays an important role in terms of determining the life conditions at the ice age. The study also gives important revelation to the future as it indicates that there could be another ice age in the next 15,000 years to come. Global warming is also an issue that has been attracting a lot of views at present. Global warming is as a result of environmental changes and it can be traced back to the past.

Environmental archeology thus traces the events leading to global warming in terms of environmental change and hence impacting positively on the understanding of global warming. The El-Niño events also play an important role in the present day in terms of affecting the animal and aquatic life. Through the study of environmental archeology, it is possible to explain the cycle of El-Niño. This is considering that it is responsible for the movement of fish from one region to the other. The concepts of climate change can also be explained through the study of environmental archeology.

Through the use of environmental archeology, it has been established that climate change dates back to 5,000 years ago (Robinson, 2013). The climate records can also be obtained through the study of records that are based on environmental archeology. This means that the vital information regarding the past climatic conditions can be obtained through the use of the environmental archeology concepts. The hurricanes have always led to devastating effects on the environment and the human life.

However, it is important to note that the hurricanes have occurred in the past and it has impacted negatively on the environment. This information can be established through environmental archeology. This is because the study of record of stalagmite is obtained from the environmental archeology which explains the past events regarding the hurricanes. The life at the sea as well as the coastline is usually important in terms of archeology. This is considering that the sea has been in existence for long and it has always supported different species o life.

Through environmental archeology, it is possible to know the different events that have occurred along the coastline as well as the sea. This information can be obtained through the study of the analysis of the sediments that provides important environmental information. The information provides an explanation of the events at the sea as well as the coastline. In some of the coastlines, evidence suggests that it has been reducing over time. This is from the evidence presented by the study of sediments.

The environmental factors have played an important role in terms of shaping the coastal area and it has had some impacts on the aquatic lives suggested by the environmental archeology. The rises and fall pattern of the sea levels can also be determined through the study of the environmental archeology. The information presented by environmental archeology is therefore useful in the study of the ancient coastline and the life in the oceans (Mayle, 2012). The land surfaces long the coastline has also undergone some changes over a period of time.

Some of the land surfaces have been submerged due to the environmental effects that have led to changes in the sea. The land surfaces that have been submerged can be traced through the use of the environmental archeology concepts. This can be achieved through studying the distribution of the shells. The lack of shell deposits in the earlier time which could be about 10,000 years ago is an indication that the area was once a land surface. The exploitation of the resources at the sea is also important in terms of determining the feeding habits around the coastline.

This is important in terms of understanding the resources that were mainly exploited in the past along the coastline in terms of food. The feeding habits of the people and animals that lived along the coastline can therefore be determined (Middleton, 2012).

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