About this Research Topic
Studying the interaction between past humans and past environments is a growing field of research within archaeology. Influenced by the current emergency associated with “Global Warming”, archaeologists and scientists working in this field mostly focus on how our ancestors adapted to extreme climates, while other aspects interlacing prehistoric humans, their archaeological record, and their environments remain under-investigated. One of these overlooked aspects is the role that erosional processes had in the evolution of our species and in the formation of its archaeological record.
Recent publications have shown that investigating causes, timing, and effects of erosional processes can be more enlightening than simply informing about the preservation of a stratified archaeological site. On the contrary, the study of eroding prehistoric landscapes can contribute to (i) correctly interpret gaps observed in regional archaeological records, (ii) pinpoint research biases, (iii) highlight causes for changes in the exploitation of raw materials, and (iv) unveil the early impact of our ancestors on the vegetation composition of their environments.
In this Research Topic titled “Prehistoric humans and eroding landscapes”, we welcome interdisciplinary contributions that will push forward our current understanding of the relation between our ancestors and unstable environments.
We encourage the submission of manuscripts presenting multi-site datasets, that integrate results from different specialties (geoarchaeology, isotopic analysis, raw material studies, paleobotany, archaeozoology, etc.) and combine different approaches (micro & macro, on-site & off-site, etc.). Within the overarching theme “Prehistoric humans and eroding landscapes”, we welcome manuscripts covering one or more of these three specific topics:
• Taphonomy: (a) contributions focusing on the impact that erosional processes moving across landscapes had on the formation of archaeological records, (b) methodological advances in the study of archaeological palimpsests associated with deflation surfaces.
• Human Adaptation: (c) studies presenting evidence of erosion-induced changes in raw material exploitation, subsistence, and settlement strategies.
• Human Impact: (e) case studies presenting new compelling evidence of early human-induced landscape erosion, (f) articles providing evidence of landscape manipulation by prehistoric humans to prevent and contain hydrogeological instability.
Recent publications have shown that investigating causes, timing, and effects of erosional processes can be more enlightening than simply informing about the preservation of a stratified archaeological site. On the contrary, the study of eroding prehistoric landscapes can contribute to (i) correctly interpret gaps observed in regional archaeological records, (ii) pinpoint research biases, (iii) highlight causes for changes in the exploitation of raw materials, and (iv) unveil the early impact of our ancestors on the vegetation composition of their environments.
In this Research Topic titled “Prehistoric humans and eroding landscapes”, we welcome interdisciplinary contributions that will push forward our current understanding of the relation between our ancestors and unstable environments.
We encourage the submission of manuscripts presenting multi-site datasets, that integrate results from different specialties (geoarchaeology, isotopic analysis, raw material studies, paleobotany, archaeozoology, etc.) and combine different approaches (micro & macro, on-site & off-site, etc.). Within the overarching theme “Prehistoric humans and eroding landscapes”, we welcome manuscripts covering one or more of these three specific topics:
• Taphonomy: (a) contributions focusing on the impact that erosional processes moving across landscapes had on the formation of archaeological records, (b) methodological advances in the study of archaeological palimpsests associated with deflation surfaces.
• Human Adaptation: (c) studies presenting evidence of erosion-induced changes in raw material exploitation, subsistence, and settlement strategies.
• Human Impact: (e) case studies presenting new compelling evidence of early human-induced landscape erosion, (f) articles providing evidence of landscape manipulation by prehistoric humans to prevent and contain hydrogeological instability.
Keywords: Eroding Landscapes, Erosional Processes, Human-Environment Interactions, Unstable Environments
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
