Geoarchaeology involves the application of analytical techniques, concepts, and field methods from the earth sciences to help solve archaeological problems. Issues that geoarchaeologists study include human and environmental processes involved in site formation, the sedimentary context of archaeological remains, soils and sediments relevant to archaeology, the relationship between past settlement and landscape evolution, paleoclimatic reconstruction, human impacts on the environment, geological sourcing of artifact proveniences, and remote sensing of the physical environment, to give only a partial list.

Geoarchaeology is one of several focal areas for our faculty and students in the Departments of Anthropology and Earth & Planetary Sciences. We emphasize interdisciplinary research involving faculty in Anthropology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Art History and Archaeology, and Classics. Geoarchaeological studies complement and enhance existing research strengths at Washington University, including ongoing programs in paleoethnobotany, zooarchaeology, Pleistocene and Holocene climatic reconstruction, and the archaeological study of pre- and post-contact societies in North and South America, eastern and northern Africa, and the Near East. We have ongoing geoarchaeological research programs in North Africa and North America and are collaborating with researchers at universities and government agencies in the United States, Africa, Europe, and Canada. Graduate students interested in studying geoarchaeology at Washington University can take a Ph.D. in Anthropology or in Earth and Planetary Sciences; undergraduates can study geoarchaeology within the context of the major in Anthropology, Archaeology, or Earth and Planetary Sciences.

 Archaeology: Students interested in geoarchaeology and who are applying for graduate study in anthropological archaeology should apply for admission through the Department of Anthropology.

Principal Anthropology faculty are:

Geosciences: Students interested in geoarchaeology and who are applying for graduate study in geosciences should apply through the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Principal Earth and Planetary Sciences faculty are:

In addition, the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences has numerous faculty with expertise in satellite and geophysical remote sensing.

Courses: The Departments of Anthropology and Earth and Planetary Sciences offer numerous courses that allow students to develop a sound background in anthropology and earth sciences, as well as to develop topical and methodological specialization. There is no fixed curriculum in Geoarchaeology. In addition to required courses in the respective departmental programs, graduate students seeking to specialize in Geoarchaeology are encouraged to take courses in the departments that complement and enhance their existing training and that will be relevant to their areas of interest. Examples of course that are offered can be found by clicking here.

Related programs: Faculty in related fields include: Gwen Bennett (Department of Art History and Archaeology; China, lithic analysis, environmental archaeology), and Susan Rotroff (Department of Classics; ceramic analysis, Greece).

Resources for Studying Geoarchaeology at Washington University: The Department of Anthropology has numerous resources for field and lab analysis, including a fully equipped Archaeology lab, a geoarchaeology lab  for sediment analysis, field equipment (including laser transit, standard and differential GPS receivers, GIS software, and computers), paleoethnobotany labs, and zooarchaeology labs. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences has modern laboratory facilities for rock processing, microscopy, analytical and isotopic geochemistry, (including XRF, INAA, ICP-MS, and EMP) and molecular geomicrobiology). The Tyson Research Center, a 2000-acre field station just outside the St. Louis metropolitan area, provides numerous opportunities for experimental studies of taphonomy or landscape evolution in a fluviokarst environment.

 

Washington University has an excellent library system for scholars studying Geoarchaeology. In addition to Olin Library, the main library at the University, there is a separate Earth and Planetary Sciences Library which houses books and journals on geosciences as well as USGS and other Government documents, maps, photo images, and some digital image data. The Anthropology Department maintains a small library and the Archaeology lab houses a growing collection of research literature on North American archaeology.

Contacts: For information on the program in Geoarchaeology please contact either Dr. T.R. Kidder (trkidder@wustl.edu) Department of Anthropology, Washington University, Campus Box 1114, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130; (314) 935-5242) or Dr. Jennifer Smith (jensmith@levee.wustl.edu) Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Campus Box 1169, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130; (314) 935-9451).

Links

Washington University Home Page

Washington University Department of Anthropology

Undergraduate Anthropology at Washington University

Undergraduate Archaeology Major at Washington University

Washington University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Washington University Graduate School in Arts and Sciences

Other geoarchaeology links

Geoarchaeology: An International Journal

Geological Society of America, Archaeological Geology Division

Society for American Archaeology (SAA) Geoarchaeology interest group