Geo-Ethnoarchaeology
Geo-ethnoarchaeology is an integrative research approach that applies geoarchaeological methods and principles to study living communities and recently abandoned sites. In these locations, direct information can be gathered in order to draw connections between human behaviour and the formation of the archaeological record. In particular, it allows building a reference collection of microscopic markers associated with specific human practices that were recorded through ethnographic work. It also makes it possible to follow taphonomic changes and post-depositional processes by studying recently abandoned sites. The strength of the geo-ethnoarchaeological approach lies in its ability to connect the archaeological material record with human agency, human behaviour and interaction with the environment.
Key Projects
Degradation of Mud brick Structure
My doctoral dissertation titled “Formation Processes Related to the Degradation of Mud Brick Structures and Their Archaeological Implications” provided a geoarchaeological model for the formation of archaeological mounds related to mud structure decay. This model was developed using a geo-ethnoarchaeological approach that compared the influence of arid as opposed to temperate environment on the decay of mud structures in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is particularly challenging for archaeologists to reconstruct human activity within mud structures that were later severely degraded. The degradation of mud structures is considered a major agent in the formation of Bronze and Iron Age mounds in the Near East. However, the mechanism that controls this process has never been fully explored. My work supplied new microscopic references for identifying human activity within decayed earthen architecture. For example, I argue for the presence of an overlooked ‘floor-roof complex’, a cm to mm thick deposit which only through a microscopic analysis floors, activity residues and roof remains can be distinguished. This study provides a methodological framework for the reconstruction of domestic activities and earthen architecture.
Archaeological Formation Processes in Forager Sites in Tropical Environment
Activities of foragers are characterised by ephemeral occupation, which often leaves no visible traces. It poses a challenge for the archaeological visibility of foragers, especially in tropical forests, where archaeological materials are poorly preserved. Funded by the Marie Curie Individual Fellowship from the European Commission, I carried out a project titled “Tropical Micro-Archaeology: an interdisciplinary project aiming to study site formation processes in tropical environment related to hunter-gatherers’ use of space”. A yearlong ethnographic work among the Nayaka people, a contemporary hunter-gatherer group in South India, was followed by geoarchaeological analysis of their abandoned sites. I combined microscopic analysis with spatial analysis to detect the spatial distribution of micro-remains produced by different activities. The integration between ethnographic data and microscopic findings allowed me to connect the Nayaka’s behaviour with the formation of archaeological evidence. For example, the Nayaka’s practice of sharing dictated a dynamic use of fireplaces. Hearths were not affixed to a certain location inside each house but constantly changed locations in the outdoor open space to allow maximum sharing in full visibility. As a result, microscopic fire residues were not concentrated in specific areas or found in indoor spaces; rather, they were widely spread throughout the outdoor activity space presenting ephemeral use. By excavating abandoned sites, I was able to investigate post-depositional processes that affect the preservation of archaeological materials in tropical rainforests. This research demonstrated that the absence of bone and ash in humid tropical forests is not a human preference but a result of the soil acidity. On the other hand, charcoal and phytoliths preserve well and I suggest using them as reliable evidence for human activity in tropical environments. This research provided a new microscopic perspective for studying forager behaviour in general, and in tropical forests in particular.
Dung Plastered Floors
Animal dung is commonly used as a construction material among many societies around the world. While the identification of archaeological dung within domesticated animal enclosures or when used as fuel is well established, dung as a construction material has been overlooked by archaeologists mostly due to the difficulty of identifying it. In a geo-ethnoarchaeological pilot study I aimed to understand the archaeological formation processes of outdoor dung plastered floors and the possibility to identify dung markers in humid tropical environments. This study included fieldwork in two house terraces of a rural village in the forested hills of the Western Ghats in South India. A multi-proxy microscopic analysis of floor sediment samples showed that the dung plaster presents low preservation of dung markers for depositional and post-depositional reasons. The domestic mundane activity resulted in only a mm thick and uneven spread of a dung crust. Post-depositional processes include acidic conditions and mechanical weathering due to trampling, sweeping and water runoff. This study provided new data and insights on the potential and limitations of dung identification in outdoor settings in humid tropical environment. It suggested possible directions for advancing the study of archaeological dung used as construction material.
