Paleoenvironmental and Geosciences Department

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction allows researchers to reconstruct how landscapes have evolved over time, which should be taken into account when interpreting past changes in settlement, subsistence, and adaptation. Landscapes in many settings have changed significantly from those used by ancient populations, and such changes can be dramatic, especially in coastal, riverine, and aeolian environments. A variety of paleoecological indicators (e.g., pollen, ostracodes, diatoms, and mollusks) are used in combination with chronometric and stratigraphic studies to reconstruct ancient landscapes.

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