Convenors: Rosa M. Albert (Spain), Yannick Devos (Belgium), Monica Alonso (Belgium) and Sally Hoare (UK)
Archaeological sciences, that is the analysis and study of archaeological materials and sites using methodological approaches from other sciences, has allowed a step forward in the expansion and improvement of our knowledge of past human history, as well as opened new avenues of research.
As a result, we have significantly improved our understanding of the physical and cultural evolution of the human past through time by the use of more accurate dating methods; improved our understanding of environmental issues and landscape-human interaction from different perspectives, such as climate, vegetation and fauna; and used geochemical and geoarchaeological approaches to better understand site formation processes and how taphonomy can affect the preservation of archaeological remains. Other techniques, like remote sensing and geophysical survey, have improved our ability to detect and target new study sites. Other fields of study, such as conservation science, artefact and lithic studies, archaeometallurgy, bioarchaeology, palaeobotany, palaeopathology, zooarchaeology, etc., are now regularly used. More recently, the use of DNA and artificial intelligence has opened up new and exciting lines of research, the full potential of which has yet to be realised.
The Archaeological Sciences theme aims to bring together researchers from all over the world from different disciplines and backgrounds to present their research and results on the above questions, as well as other issues related to the application of archaeological sciences. We welcome sessions on this topic and encourage session convenors to think innovatively and push the boundaries of archaeological science. What are the latest advances in archaeological science and what are the most promising areas of research for the near future? How can the archaeological sciences challenge traditional archaeological interpretations and narratives of the past? How can archaeological science advance and contribute to contemporary debates on climate change, well-being and socio-ecological crises?
Contacts:
Yannick Devos
Research Professor, Archaeology, Environmental Changes and Geochemistry Research Group, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
yannick.george.devos@vub.be
Monica Alonso
Postdoctoral Researcher, Archaeology, Environmental Changes and Geochemistry Research Group, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
Monica.Alonso.Eguiluz@vub.be
Sally Hoare
PGR Researcher Developer, University of Liverpool, UK
xg0u5050@liverpool.ac.uk
Rosa Maria Albert
ICREA Research Professor, Department of Prehistory of the Autonomous University of Barcelona
RosaMaria.Albert@uab.cat
THEME 12 SESSIONS
T12/Session 02: From Ecology to Technology: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Plant-Based Artefacts
T12/Session 03: Lands of Memory—Contributions of Applied Soil Science to Archaeological Questions
T12/Session 05: Human Remains, Human Stories: Perspectives on Lifestyles, Health, and Environments
T12/Session 06: Innovations in the Use of Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) in Archaeometry
THEME 12 WORKHOPS