geoarchaeology
|geo-ar-chae-o-lo-gy|
🇺🇸
/ˌdʒiːoʊˌɑrkiˈɑlədʒi/
🇬🇧
/ˌdʒiːəʊˌɑːkiˈɒlədʒi/
earth sciences applied to archaeology
Etymology
'geoarchaeology' originates from Greek elements: 'geo-' (from Greek 'gē' meaning 'earth') combined with 'archaeology' (from Greek 'archaios' meaning 'ancient' and 'logia' meaning 'study').
'geoarchaeology' is a modern compound formed in the 20th century by combining 'geo-' and the established scholarly word 'archaeology'; 'archaeology' itself came into English via Latin/French from Greek 'archaios' + 'logia'.
Initially the roots simply meant 'earth' + 'study of ancient things', but the compound has evolved to mean specifically the application of earth‑science methods to archaeological problems.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the interdisciplinary application of geological techniques and concepts (soils, sediments, stratigraphy, geomorphology, and other earth‑science methods) to archaeological research to reconstruct past environments and interpret archaeological contexts.
Geoarchaeology revealed that the site had been buried by a rapid flood event, which explained the excellent preservation of organic remains.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/06 13:22