Environmental Controls

Definition

Environmental controls refer to the various physical and natural factors that influence the preservation, excavation, and interpretation of archaeological sites. These controls can include climate, soil composition, vegetation, and other ecological variables that affect how artifacts and structures are preserved over time. Understanding these factors is crucial for archaeologists when determining excavation methods and site management strategies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Environmental controls can determine the types of materials that are preserved at a site, influencing what artifacts archaeologists may find during excavations.
2. Factors such as temperature, moisture levels, and soil pH can directly impact the degradation or preservation of organic materials, such as wood and textiles.
3. Understanding environmental controls helps archaeologists select appropriate excavation methods to minimize damage to fragile artifacts.
4. Climate change poses new challenges for environmental controls, as it can alter soil composition and moisture levels, affecting site integrity.
5. Different excavation methods may be more effective in certain environments; for example, wet screening is often employed in waterlogged areas to recover small artifacts.

Review Questions

• How do environmental controls influence the selection of excavation methods at archaeological sites?
  • Environmental controls significantly impact the choice of excavation methods because they dictate the conditions under which artifacts are preserved or deteriorated. For instance, in a site with high moisture levels, archaeologists may opt for wet screening techniques to recover fragile artifacts that could easily degrade if not handled properly. Additionally, understanding soil types and sediment layers can inform decisions about how deep to excavate and which areas might yield the most valuable information without risking damage.
• Discuss how climate change could alter environmental controls and the implications for future archaeological excavations.
  • Climate change has the potential to drastically alter environmental controls by affecting temperature, precipitation patterns, and soil moisture levels. These changes could lead to increased erosion or flooding at archaeological sites, compromising their integrity and making excavation more challenging. Furthermore, alterations in climate can shift vegetation patterns, impacting what types of materials are found or preserved. As a result, archaeologists must adapt their strategies to account for these changing environmental conditions to effectively manage and interpret sites.
• Evaluate the relationship between environmental controls and site stratigraphy in understanding human activities in archaeology.
  • The relationship between environmental controls and site stratigraphy is crucial for interpreting human activities at archaeological sites. Environmental factors influence how layers of soil and sediment accumulate over time, revealing patterns of human occupation and usage. For instance, changes in vegetation due to human activity can affect sediment deposition rates, creating distinct layers that reflect different periods of use or abandonment. Analyzing these stratigraphic layers in conjunction with environmental data allows archaeologists to reconstruct past landscapes and understand how humans interacted with their environment throughout history.

Related terms

Sediment Analysis: The study of soil layers and composition to understand past environmental conditions and human activities at an archaeological site.

Microclimates: Localized climate conditions that differ from the surrounding area, which can significantly impact the preservation of archaeological materials.

Site Stratigraphy: The layering of soil and sediment at a site, providing insight into the chronological sequence of human activity and natural processes.