USING ETHNOGEOLOGY TO INFORM MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN CAVES (Invited Presentation)

The understanding of human-geology interactions can be improved by targeting efforts to study given meaning (socially-constructed) to localities, also known as place. The use of place provides a systematically way to organize that integrates local knowledge, history, geology, geography, and language. Ethnogeology is the scientific study of human relationships with and knowledge of geologic scenarios, by contextualizing geological knowledge through a specific culture. Caves, void spaces produced by mechanical and/or chemical processes within the rock, are places that can be used to study culturally-framed geological knowledge and as a central theme to develop multidisciplinary research.

Here, we discuss recent ethnogeology research results that suggest an established reliable system of local ethnogeologic knowledge, including metaphors and analogies to describe geomorphic processes and speleothem development in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic caves. Followed by the potential applications for ethnogeological research in facilitating and informing community-based studies related to current challenges to local and regional resilience and sustainability, such as cultural and environmental resource protection and management, natural hazards preparedness and mitigation related to climate change, paleoclimate, land-use decision making, and as a premise for the development of theoretical framework. Cave research, informed by ethnogeology, has the potential to support recruitment and retention efforts of students from historically underrepresented groups that have strong cultural ties to caves and for the enrichment of the general public that is interested in geoheritage resources.