FROM CONSULTATION TO COLLABORATION: WHY GEOLOGISTS SHOULD LEARN ARCHAEOLOGICAL THEORY

Courses in geoarchaeology commonly involve little or no archaeological theory in their curricula; the archaeological content of these courses is often limited to archaeological examples and situations. For collaborations to be fruitful, archaeologists must learn about geological methods and concepts, but geologists should also appreciate how archaeological theory affects research design and interpretation. While geology laid down its theoretical foundations decades ago, passionate debates over theory still exist in archaeology. Contemporary archaeology is practiced within a range of theoretical frameworks: processualist, interpretive, cognitive, feminist, Marxist, and others. These frameworks are not merely philosophical trivialities that are without effect on the routine practice of archaeology. Differences in these theoretical frameworks can lead to differences in research questions and design, sampling strategies, terminology, inferences, and more. Use of these frameworks varies by country, institution, and individual. The value of geology to archaeological studies depends on its place in the overall research design and interpretation. Geologists can increase that value by recognizing the different theories that archaeologists will bring to a particular problem. Specialized geology courses for archaeologists are often suggested, but the reverse is rare. Most introductory archaeology courses assume an anthropological background and therefore may not be appropriate for interested geologists. In any interdisciplinary collaboration, there are fundamentals that must be understood by all of the participants. In geoarchaeology, archaeological theory has not typically been considered one of these fundamentals. Geoarchaeology already exemplifies the great potential of interdisciplinary work, but it will further benefit from greater inclusion of archaeological theory in the training of those with geological backgrounds.