What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists

Since the 1970’s and 1980’s, many studies have highlighted the importance of geoarchaeology in archaeological research and interpretation. Nevertheless, training in geoarchaeology is still lacking in most Anthropology/Archaeology programs in Latin America. The syllabi have not been sufficiently mode...

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Autor principal: Favier Dubois, Cristian M.
Formato: Artículo revista
Lenguaje:Español
Publicado: Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires 2023
Materias:
Archaeological practice
Geosciences in archaeology
Academic training
Práctica arqueológica
Geociencias en arqueología
Formación académica
Acceso en línea:http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/11195
Aporte de:
Arqueología de Universidad de Buenos Aires
id I28-R243-article-11195
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institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-243
container_title_str Arqueología
language Español
format Artículo revista
topic Archaeological practice
Geosciences in archaeology
Academic training
Práctica arqueológica
Geociencias en arqueología
Formación académica
spellingShingle Archaeological practice
Geosciences in archaeology
Academic training
Práctica arqueológica
Geociencias en arqueología
Formación académica
Favier Dubois, Cristian M.
What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists
topic_facet Archaeological practice
Geosciences in archaeology
Academic training
Práctica arqueológica
Geociencias en arqueología
Formación académica
author Favier Dubois, Cristian M.
author_facet Favier Dubois, Cristian M.
author_sort Favier Dubois, Cristian M.
title What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists
title_short What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists
title_full What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists
title_fullStr What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists
title_full_unstemmed What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists
title_sort what do we dig when we dig? geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of latin american archaeologists
description Since the 1970’s and 1980’s, many studies have highlighted the importance of geoarchaeology in archaeological research and interpretation. Nevertheless, training in geoarchaeology is still lacking in most Anthropology/Archaeology programs in Latin America. The syllabi have not been sufficiently modernized to meet the archaeologists’ requirements for interpreting the stratigraphy of an archaeological site or comprehending its formation processes, despite the fact that these are the foundations of numerous archaeological inferences that we subsequently draw. The sediments and soils comprising the matrix that contains the evidence, along with the stratigraphic-geomorphological framework of the sites, are an integral component of the archaeological record and thus crucial to interpreting the object of study in this discipline. Nevertheless, our limited expertise in this field often requires us to rely on specialized professionals (such as geoscientists) to examine these elements. Beyond the valuable contribution of these specialists, we must understand that geoarchaeology is archaeology, it provides essential context for interpreting archaeological sites, addressing key issues such as whether a site is primary or secondary, the significance of material associations, and the resolution and contemporaneity of assemblages. Additionally, geoarchaeology investigates possible biases and uncovers the natural or cultural origin excavated elements and features. Addressing fundamental interpretive aspects within the discipline implies the indispensability of geoarchaeological research in archaeology and tis incorporation into the undergraduate curriculum of every professional archaeologist.
publisher Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires
publishDate 2023
url http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/11195
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spelling I28-R243-article-111952023-11-08T12:01:37Z What do we dig when we dig? Geoarchaeology in the disciplinary training of Latin American archaeologists ¿Qué excavamos cuando excavamos? La geoarqueología en la formación disciplinar de los arqueólogos latinoamericanos Favier Dubois, Cristian M. Archaeological practice Geosciences in archaeology Academic training Práctica arqueológica Geociencias en arqueología Formación académica Since the 1970’s and 1980’s, many studies have highlighted the importance of geoarchaeology in archaeological research and interpretation. Nevertheless, training in geoarchaeology is still lacking in most Anthropology/Archaeology programs in Latin America. The syllabi have not been sufficiently modernized to meet the archaeologists’ requirements for interpreting the stratigraphy of an archaeological site or comprehending its formation processes, despite the fact that these are the foundations of numerous archaeological inferences that we subsequently draw. The sediments and soils comprising the matrix that contains the evidence, along with the stratigraphic-geomorphological framework of the sites, are an integral component of the archaeological record and thus crucial to interpreting the object of study in this discipline. Nevertheless, our limited expertise in this field often requires us to rely on specialized professionals (such as geoscientists) to examine these elements. Beyond the valuable contribution of these specialists, we must understand that geoarchaeology is archaeology, it provides essential context for interpreting archaeological sites, addressing key issues such as whether a site is primary or secondary, the significance of material associations, and the resolution and contemporaneity of assemblages. Additionally, geoarchaeology investigates possible biases and uncovers the natural or cultural origin excavated elements and features. Addressing fundamental interpretive aspects within the discipline implies the indispensability of geoarchaeological research in archaeology and tis incorporation into the undergraduate curriculum of every professional archaeologist. A partir de las décadas de 1970 y 1980 numerosos trabajos han demostrado la gran relevancia de la geoarqueología para la investigación e interpretación arqueológicas, sin embargo, la formación de los arqueólogos a este respecto es aún inexistente en la mayoría de las carreras de Antropología/Arqueología en Latinoamérica. Los programas de estudio no se han actualizado adecuadamente respecto a las necesidades que tenemos los arqueólogos de interpretar la estratigrafía de un sitio arqueológico o de comprender sus procesos de formación, pese a que ello constituya la base de muchas de las inferencias que posteriormente realizamos. La matriz que contiene la evidencia (sedimentos y suelos) y el marco estratigráfico-geomorfológico de los sitios son una parte ineludible del registro arqueológico a interpretar, formando parte del objeto de estudio de la disciplina. No obstante, se trata de aspectos que suelen delegarse a otros especialistas (i.e. geocientíficos) dadas nuestras falencias en ese campo. Más allá del valioso aporte de estos profesionales, debemos entender que la geoarqueología es arqueología, brinda el contexto de interpretación, atañe a cuestiones tan importantes como el carácter primario o secundario de un sitio, el significado de la asociación entre los materiales que contiene, la resolución y contemporaneidad de los conjuntos, sus posibles sesgos, así como el origen natural o cultural de algunos elementos y rasgos excavados. Abordar aspectos interpretativos tan básicos para la disciplina supone que los estudio geoarqueológicos no pueden ser soslayados en ninguna investigación arqueológica y que deberían integrar de manera ineludible el currículo de grado de todo profesional arqueólogo. Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires 2023-11-07 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/11195 10.34096/arqueologia.t29.n3.11195 Arqueología; Vol. 29 Núm. 3 (2023): septiembre-diciembre; 11195 Arqueología; Vol 29 No 3 (2023): September-December; 11195 1853-8126 0327-5159 spa http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/11195/11929 Derechos de autor 2023 Cristian Mario Favier Dubois https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0

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